President Rodrigo Duterte justified the soft stance that the Philippines has taken in the face of China’s militarization in the South China Sea, saying that he would not want to destroy the country and military, and lose a war: “Because in my simple calculation with every common sense that is available to me, I would have taken a stronger, probable a more violent way of doing it. I said in my own estimation, it would probably be a great loss to the nation, and probably end up losing a war.” In short, he was saying: I will not fight a war where I will not win.
Upon assuming the presidency in 2016, Duterte has tried to forge closer ties with China, as he courts Chinese money to finance his government’s infrastructure projects, and to invest in the country’s developing economy.
Actually, there is a philosophical basis for Duterte’s stance; he must have read Sun Tzu, known as a Chinese military strategist, Taoist philosopher, and general in the 6th century BCE who is widely recognized for his work The Art of War, a treatise on military strategy (also known as The Thirteen Chapters).
Among his famous quotes: “If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained, you will also suffer a defeat.”
As in, Duterte knows the strength of China’s military, and the shortcomings of his own defense forces; soldiers who may be high in bravery but short of arms and other warfare equipment.
Then, “Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.”
In addition, “The supreme victory is to win a war without fighting; and don’t fight forces, use them.”
As in Duterte’s earnest efforts to befriend China for development assistance and funding for infrastructure and other projects, private or public.
Generally speaking, a sovereign nation dislikes it when a foreign power establishes new military bases within striking range of its capital. But when it comes to China doing just that to the Philippines in the South China Sea, Duterte seems not to mind at all. The President, admitted that China is building military facilities on contested islands near the Philippines.
But he argued that Beijing’s intention was to counter US power in the region, not to inflict harm on his nation. “It’s really intended for those who China thinks will destroy them — and that is America,” Duterte said. “We are not part of it… Ignore the missiles there. They are not for us.”
The US, a long-standing Philippine defense ally, has warned China of its reported military buildup. It has repeatedly called for a peaceful resolution of the South China Sea dispute, citing the need to protect freedom of navigation in the vital waterway.
The sequence of events must be viewed in consideration of the internal arbitration ruling in favor of the Philippines, and which ruling invalidated China’s massive claim to the sea, dealing a blow to its maritime ambitions.
Imagine there’s no countries, it isn’t hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion, too.
Imagine all the people living life in peace…You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one.
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