Opinion-Columns | Marcos govt abandons Sabina (Escoda) Shoal to the Chinese
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has several times promised he “will not lose an inch of ‘territory” to China in the disputed areas of the South China Sea. In just two months, though, the Philippines lost the 2 trillion square inches that make up Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal on July 2 and Escoda (Sabina) Shoal just yesterday morning.
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Philippines says ‘we have not lost’ South China Sea reef after pullout
Memento Maxima Digital MarketingIt was a result of Marcos’ belligerent stance toward China, in the rather stupid thought that the US would come to the aid of the Philippines.
The US didn’t, practically betraying the Philippines, as Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, said only a few weeks ago on August 27 that US vessels “escorting’ Philippine Coast Guard ships in the disputed areas of the South China Sea “is an entirely reasonable option.”
Did Marcos himself order the BRP Teresa Magbanua to turn tail and abandon Sabina Shoal? Or was he so busy with his birthday celebrations, which included a dusk-to-dawn party that had his favorite band Duran Duran of 1980s fame performing for P55 million at the super-exclusive event, that he failed to issue instructions to his military on what to do? However, it is known that he didn’t convene the National Security Council to discuss what was a matter of vital importance to the nation. Did Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. agree to hand over Escoda to the Chinese? Or was his vehement disagreement the source of the rumor that he had resigned from the Marcos government and is now sulking somewhere, refusing to talk to media?
Told several times by US officials of America’s “ironclad” commitment to stand by the Philippines, its Coast Guard’s BRP Teresa Magbanua, one of its biggest and newest ships, sailed to the Sabina Shoal on April 7, on the pretext of investigating reports that China was building artificial islands in the area.
THE EDITOR
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