EDITORIAL - A feeble protest is better than silence

The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest with China over China’s alleged pointing of a radar gun at a Philippine Navy ship in Philippine waters and it’s creation of new districts in the areas the Philippines has claimed in the West Philippine Sea.

According to reports, China recently designated the Spratly Islands, Scarborough Shoal, and Fiery Cross Reef --all claimed by the Philippines-- as part of Sansha City, the southernmost city of their Hainan province.

According to Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., both acts are violations of our international law and Philippine sovereignty.

Of course, there will be those who will say it’s useless, and question what purpose the diplomatic protest will serve. Naysayers will say it practically means nothing in the face of China, which has more ships, more men, and even better weapons to protect their interests. These naysayers may actually have a point; a diplomatic protest will seem to serve little purpose.

However, the message of our silence is even worse. Being silent and not filing a diplomatic protest means we consent to China’s intrusion into our Exclusive Economic Zone, even if deep down inside we are seething at their brazen actions.

A feeble protest is better than not saying anything at all, and giving China, ASEAN, and the rest of the world the wrong message. Not doing or saying anything means we see no problem in China’s incursions and will encourage China to push further and further to see how far they can get away with it.

We may not be able to get behind our government in many issues, especially how it is dealing with several current issues, but this is one scenario where we should give our government our approval and wholehearted support.

Why should this concern us? If China is left to take the whole of the West Philippine Sea, can people really guarantee 100% that they will stop there?