Sailing where the two seas meet

Call it platonic love. That should perhaps best explain why a macho and a publicly known womanizer like President Rodrigo Duterte would declare his “love” for a fellow man in public. Unabashedly, President Duterte declared his “love” for President Xi Jinping of China during a press conference last Monday at Davao International Airport before he flew to Hainan Province to attend the annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA).

Reading from his prepared speech at the opening of the BFA yesterday, the Philippine leader cited the Philippines’ cooperation with China in building infrastructure and combating crime and illicit drugs trade. True to his words, President Duterte reaffirmed the Philippine partnership with China while our superpower neighbor in this part of the world is embroiled in a “trade war” with the equally powerful United States.

In the same speech, President Duterte echoed the Philippine commitment to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with China in the campaign against terrorism. Ironically, however, the phrase “shoulder-to-shoulder” is the English translation of “Balikatan,” the same term used to describe Manila’s security cooperation in the conduct of the annual military exercises and “war” games with the US forces. 

Thus, President Duterte’s expression of “love” for his counterpart Chinese leader would definitely stir up storm from among the ranks of his administration critics here and abroad. This is especially in the light of President Duterte’s day-one policy when he first assumed office in July 2016 not to pursue for the moment the enforcement of The Hague arbitral ruling in favor of the Philippines that junked the “nine-dash” claims of China over islets, reefs, shoals, atolls and the rocks in the South China Sea.

While he reiterated his previous policy pronouncement to raise The Hague ruling on the South China Sea only when necessary, President Duterte maintains he will remain careful about creating undue tensions with Beijing at a time our country needs a reliable ally. The Chief Executive, however, conceded he may agree to talk business about our West Philippine Sea claims in the context of joint exploration of the common maritime boundaries to tap rich maritime resources for the greater benefit of the Filipino people.

“I am into the business. I am not going into a war. We can postpone that war 100 years from now,” President Duterte stressed. “Anyway, I just simply love Xi Jinping.  He understood, he understands my problem and he’s willing to help. And I’d like to say thank you China,” President Duterte enthused.

The spontaneous declaration of his “love” for President Xi came on the eve of their scheduled four-eyes meeting at the sidelines of the Boao Forum. Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago “Chito” Sta. Romana cited the BFA will be an opportunity for President Duterte “to showcase” the Philippine economic achievements, the priorities of his administration, particularly in the sphere of business and economics with other top leaders invited at this international gathering being held annually in Hainan.

The BFA is billed as Asia’s version of the yearly World Economic Forum (WEF) being held in Switzerland. The prime ministers of Singapore, Pakistan and Mongolia are expected to attend, said Sta. Romana. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guteres and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde will also be there.

Former president Fidel Ramos, along with ex-Speaker Jose de Venecia are among the eminent leaders group enshrined at the BFA’s hall of fame. The latest to join them from the Philippines is former president and now Pampanga congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who was elected yesterday as board member of the BFA.

While together in Hainan, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua announced Presidents Duterte and Xi will exchange views on seizing important opportunities “to jointly build the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, so as to advance the synergy between the development strategies of our two countries, deepen all-around practical cooperation and secure common development.”

According to Amb. Zhao, the two countries have signed more than 40 cooperation documents since 2016. “The two countries have consistently deepened our strategic mutual trust. Up till now, President Xi Jinping and President Duterte have met each other for four times on both bilateral and multilateral occasions, setting the course for a win-win and sound growth of China-Philippines relations,” Zhao pointed out.

One of which, Zhao mentioned, was the establishment of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea (BCM), and launched the Joint Coast Guard Committee on Maritime Cooperation (JCGC).

Thus, the overlapping maritime dispute on South China Sea-West Philippine Sea may not likely be brought up during the bilateral meeting of the two leaders since both countries have already agreed to discuss the matter through these bilateral consultative mechanisms.

Further boosting the strong momentum to promote good-neighborly friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the Philippines, Zhao noted with satisfaction the outcome of the official visit in Manila by Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of China in November last year.

Amb. Zhao hopes this would result to greater economic cooperation and trade exchanges and more people-to-people relations between the two nations. Turning poetic, Zhao likened the ships of State of the Philippines and China navigating together side by side: “Riding winds and breaking waves, China together with the Philippines will continue to steer the ship of building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road toward an even brighter future.” 

Quoting excerpts from a Chinese poem, Amb. Zhao made this invitation: “The water is calm and wind fair. To the vast sea let’s set sail.”

Perhaps, he may be metaphorically speaking about sailing through the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea where the two troubled seas meet.