China only wants PH to show “sincerity”

TIME and again, throughout the centuries, China has consistently been the friend Filipinos could– and would– rely on in time of great and urgent need.

Now, amidst the host of crises spawned by the US-Israel ‘War of Choice’ against Iran leading to the constriction of the Strait of Hormuz and all its negative consequences, the Philippines turns to China—yet again– to ensure the flow of supply of fuel, LPG and fertilizer.

China, without any second thought, assured Philippine authorities that it would not cut back on any of its supply commitment.

This brotherly spirit of fairness and helpfulness of China to the Philippines is despite BBM’s permission to the deliberate provocations, insults and meanness of pro-Washington elements in his defense and security clusters in the last three years who are determined to wreak our relationship with China even at the expense of our country’s core interests—national unity, peace and economic progress for Filipinos.

The restart of the Philippines-China oil and gas exploration talks comes simultaneous with the announcement by President Bongbong Marcos of a “reset” in the Philippines’ China ties. We want to believe that this is recognition that all was not well prior to Middle East crisis that accentuates our need for China’s help.

China immediately expressed “openness” to the proposition but sought only “sincerity” from the Philippine side.

The Chinese side asked for “sincerity” from our government due to its flip-flopping position and unilateral abrogation of previous agreements.

Baseless allegations of a “secret deal,” filing of the arbitration case and selective constitutional issues raised by the anti-China elements of the Senate intensified.

The restart of the Philippines-China oil and gas exploration talks comes simultaneous with the announcement by President Bongbong Marcos of a “reset” in the Philippines’ China ties. We want to believe that this is recognition that all was not well prior to Middle East crisis that accentuates our need for China’s help.

China immediately expressed “openness” to the proposition but sought only “sincerity” from the Philippine side.

Then, in June of 2022, in the last days of the Duterte administration transitioning to the Marcos administration, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin announced the unilateral termination by the Philippines of joint oil and gas deal of 2018 signed between President Xi Jinping and President Rodrigo R. Duterte in Beijing.

President Duterte was clearly unhappy with the Locsin decision for he issued a statement that the succeeding government should fulfill the deal or face conflict.

The Bongbong Marcos government did not heed Duterte’s advice and clearly learned nothing from history when his father, President Marcos, Sr. faced a similarly devastating oil crisis and obtained assistance from China.

He then also spent the rest of his term preparing for the next oil crisis by setting up our own national oil company and laid the plan for us to have a nuclear power plant.

These efforts were frustrated by the succeeding US-controlled administrations the result of which is why we are suffering today.

Now, the exigencies form the Iran War compels Bongbong Marcos’ government to reconsider the China option both for our immediate supply of oil as well as long term needs thru the joint oil and gas deal with China.

The question from China’s side is: How firm is this decision?

Is it just momentary while the Philippines’ Overlord, US Imperialism, is distracted with the Iran War and the global crisis it has spawned that forced the US to allow sanctions relief on oil supplies sourced from its list of enemies (Iran, Russia, China) that Marcos now used to prevent a disaster at home?

“What if the U.S. cracks the whip on the Philippines again to stick to its Anti-China line and our government agrees to “de-link” from China again?

It would do well for the Bongbong government to issue clear assurances of sincerity to China in the ongoing talks with other concrete actions like restraining the US “dogs” in his defense establishment in their anti-China propaganda. Firing Jay Tarriela can be a good start.

Better still, he should take action to oust the US bases here.

But both may just be “wishful thinking.” Who knows?