You happen to have rights to an empty lot beside yours. So, you want to start a small vegetable farm to make use of the said property. As you survey the property, your rich and powerful neighbor starts to notice you. He then asks his armed bodyguards to start surveillance. Your neighbor then reminds you of an agreement where you cannot do anything without involving him because he believes he owns the whole village. You can't solely own any of the crops harvested, and your rules do not govern the use of the property. Unbelievable? Absolutely.
President Duterte ordered the suspension of all ocean exploration for oil and natural gas because "a man from Beijing" reminded him of the joint exploration deal of both countries. DOE Secretary Cusi gave the order of suspension. The “man from Beijing” also threatened that Beijing will do the same if the Philippines sends troops to the West Philippine Sea. In other words, the Philippines cannot operate in its own exclusive economic zone without permission from China. Both Secretary Cusi and Defense Secretary Lorenzana could not comment on the suspension order. Not surprising as the whole issue is just unbelievable.
This is how submissive this administration has become to China. The country needs energy. That is why we are investigating the ocean for oil and natural gas. Those two types of fuel are already in high demand because of Putin’s stupid war in Ukraine. Should we find oil and natural gas, we cannot even lay claim to it or even govern whatever contract we have with a third party. Is this acceptable to the Filipino people?
Professor Jay Batongbacal, the director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and the Law of the Sea described it as “a game of chicken and we’re losing”. The country cannot seem to do anything without permission from Beijing. Will this be the case with the incoming president? If surveys are accurate and elections were held today, the son of the late dictator would win. We already know his sentiments toward China and will most likely maintain the status quo, if not even give more concessions to Beijing in exchange for whatever benefits him for the next six years. With two weeks left before the elections, the issue with China must be carefully studied by all voters. We are a sovereign nation. But when it comes to the West Philippine Sea and our exclusive economic zone, we seem to be in servitude.