Being friends with as many countries as we can

One of the cardinal principles of President Duterte’s foreign policy is to make as many friends as we can. It is also one of the reasons why he won. Many agreed it was the right approach to work for the country’s interest.

We are happy that former President Fidel Ramos accepted the task of envoy to restore friendly relations with China. The last time I saw him before he left he told me he was still unsure because of his health. He also said that he only read it in the newspapers that President Duterte wanted him to take up the difficult job. 

The Chinese wanted him as envoy of the Philippines and as I said in one column, the former President has many friends in China because he helped organize the Boao forum in Hainan. The idea was it would be the version of an Asian Davos.

When asked what would be the object of his trip, he said “there is no objective. I am going there to renew and rekindle old ties,” Ramos told reporters before he boarded his flight.

“What he said was please just renew our friendship with your friends from China, that’s all. But I’m expecting that the formal phase of bilateral talks will take place in the near future between the officials of our countries.”

A friend gave me a paper with some helpful tips that should be at the back of FVR’s mind as special envoy.

“In international relations, being an ally of the United States doesn’t mean being confrontational against China,

ASEAN countries like Singapore and Malaysia are close to the US but are very skillful in balancing their relations with the two big powers.

The US-Philippine Mutual Defense treaty does not assure that the US will defend the Philippines when Philippine security is threatened in the South China area.

The US has its own interests with China. These two powers are deeply intertwined economically and in many other areas.

Vietnam, like the Philippines has territorial disputes with China, but it keeps open its bilateral engagement in terms of high level visits, and military consultations. It has carried out joint fishery patrols with China since 2006.

Despite the dispute Philippines and China developed multi-facet engagements and expanded common interests while keeping differences under control.

Under the Aquino government the Philippines was dragged into diplomatic animosities including the managed decision in the Hague. We were on the brink of a regional war that was fueled when the US military bases were allowed back to the Philippines. making us an immediate target of armed attacks.”

We certainly could do more about implementing the Duterte foreign policy platform and draw as many foreign countries as friends other than China or the US.

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There’s the hard work of former Speaker JDV in the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP). He is in Katmandu, Nepal as the newly elected chairman of the group.

Nepal has a new Maoist Premier Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda.” Three other former Nepalese Marxist Premiers declared their unanimous support for a final peace settlement among the Philippine New People’s Army, Communist Party, and the Government of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

The talks centered on the end of Nepal’s 10-year Maoist civil war, abolition of the monarchy, successful shift to a federal government, and creation of a government of national unity with Nepal’s non-Communist Congress Party in a new coalition government.

IAPP has some 300 Asian parliamentarians from Nepal, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Timor Leste, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia.

Nepal’s Communist and Democratic leaders are enthusiastic and fully supportive of President Duterte’s efforts to establish a final separate peace with Philippine Communists and the Mindanao Muslim rebellion leaders.

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MISCELLANY: This column will try to write as many topics to bolster Duterte’s foreign policy of friendship with all.

Here’s one from Quito, Ecuador. “Reports are coming in about a strong earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale striking western Ecuador with the epicenter near the town of Mompiche. A devastating earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale hit the same part of the country on April 16, killing 659 people and causing widespread devastation. ^“

And another from Cuba. “When Sarpoma Sefa Boakye who grew up in southern California and went to UCLA, heard she could go to medical school in Cuba, she thought it must be a joke. Not that it existed – she met Cuban doctors while studying abroad in Ghana, so she knew about the country’s robust healthcare system. What was unbelievable was the cost.

“I called the office asking how much the program cost, how much the application fee was. They were just like ‘Free, free,’” says Sefa-Boakye. “How can it be free?” But indeed, the Latin American Medical School – ELAM, in Spanish – is free, charging no tuition, room, or board. In 2002, she packed her bags for Havana.

Sefa-Boakye is one of over 100 Americans who have gone to the school. Cuba established it in 1999, after the country sent hundreds of doctors to help neighboring countries hit by hurricanes. The school is an extension of that medical diplomacy: ELAM caters specifically to low-income students from outside Cuba, who come learn for six years and return to serve their communities.

Does this sound like a way to spread Cuba’s ideology – you know, propaganda? Sure, maybe. But for some American students, the school’s draw is free tuition. Others come specifically because of Cuba’s ideas about healthcare, including its emphasis on community medicine. At a time of ballooning health costs, the US (and the Philippines may I add) might learn a thing or two about that.”

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I was hesitant to write on beauty contests. But on second thought why shouldn’t I? I know that there are many Filipinos enamored with beauty contests. I expected an avalanche of criticism for being a kj (kill joy). Imagine my surprise when instead of  rebukes, I received praises. One said “it was very good” – something that has been on the minds of many Filipino women who wish to be thought of as more serious and given the chance would take up more laudable life patterns and careers.