FRIDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2016 16:57
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IN this new now era of globalization, interdependence and alliances, no country could exist as an island by itself.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, last Tuesday, called on all nations to form one global family in the face of threats to peace and environment.
Countries depend on one another for food, clothing, medicines and medical services, computers, computer chips, workers, military protection and many others.
This is not the time for the Philippines to change horses in the middle of the stream.
It is saddled with sensitive problems, such as drugs, China’s behavior in the West Philippine Sea and the terrorist bands in southern Philippines.
The mind of President Rodrigo Duterte is apparently still in the 50s or 60s.
Conditions today are kilometrically different from those of decades ago.
The age of nationalism is long gone.
It has been replaced by internationalism.
Followed by globalization.
A university professor called our attention.
He asked whether Uncle Digong is anti-American or anti-imperialist?
Judging from this President’s earlier pronouncements, he seems to be both.
At the same time, he has virtually adopted a policy of appeasement toward China.
If we are to speak of imperialism the old way, like in the 50s or 60s, then, it is China which is now behaving as an imperialist country.
Just look at their behavior in the South China Sea.
They have claimed what were not theirs.
There is already a judgment by an international court and, yet, they won’t listen.
If the Philippine President really likes the Chinese, perhaps, he should pay attention to what the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place.”
(In Mr. Duterte’s case, the rest of his presidency will fall into place.)
Perhaps, President Duterte needs to be made aware of the following comparative figures:
“After Super-Typhoon Haiyan-Yolanda, China pledged a total of $2-M in aid, while the Swedish store Ikea pledged $2.7-M. U.S. initially pledged $20-M in aid, but delivered $90.9-M. Among the first responders to Tacloban were helicopters of the U.S. military who helped restore operations at the airport to allow aid to be flown in.
“In terms of net foreign direct investments (to the Philippines), U.S. contributed 34% of all FDI in 2011-15. Japan came next at 23.7%. China was far behind at only 0.8%
“In 2015, the Philippines earned P227.6-B from international tourism. Of this amount, the top visitor was South Korea at 29.2%. Then U.S. at 18.6%. China was only 4.5%.
“Here was where China emerged as number one. The trade value of illegal drugs in the Philippines was estimated at $8.3-B in 2013. 96% of this was shabu, came in almost exclusively from China.”
(Editorial note: Figures in the last four paragraphs were lifted from a Facebook post by former PH Rep. Roilo Golez.)
