The fact that Duterte insists war only alternative to dealing with China, yet various experts say there are other options aside from war and 'subservience' to China
After criticism of his administration's "weak" response to Chinese bombers landing in South China Sea islands, President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated his belief that he has no other choice but to stay on China's good side as the only other option is to go to war.
"I cannot afford at this time to go to war. I cannot go to a battle which I cannot win and would only result in the destruction and probably a lot of losses for our Armed Forces," said Duterte last Tuesday, May 22.
Duterte said the Philippines cannot stop China from building on Scarborough, adding that he cannot let soldiers die in a war that the country is certain to lose.
Carpio enumerated 5 ways the President can deter China's activities in the West Philippine Sea without going to war.
The senior justice also proposed to continue joint patrols between the Philippine and US militaries and to ask the country's treaty ally to categorically declare that it will defend Scarborough shoal from invasion. Carpio said these twin moves will deter China's aggressiveness.
"The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces which are expressly tasked by the Constitution to defend the national territory. Under RA No. 9522, Scarborough Shoal is part of Philippine national territory," Carpio said in a statement on Monday, March 20.
Here are the 5 ways Duterte can defend Scarborough Shoal, according to Carpio.
1.) File a strong formal protest against China's building activity. This is the least that the President can do. This is what the Vietnamese did recently when China sent cruise tours to the disputed Paracels.
2.) Send the Philippine Navy to patrol Scarborough Shoal. If the Chinese attack Philippine navy vessels, then the President can invoke the Phil-US Mutual defense Treaty, which covers any armed attack on Philippine navy vessels operating in the South China Sea.
3.) Ask the United States to declare that Scarborough Shoal is part of Philippine territory for purposes of the Phil-US Mutual Defense Treaty since the shoal has been part of Philippine territory even during the American colonial period. The US has declared the Senkakus as part of Japanese territory for purposes of the US-Japan mutual defense treaty.
4.) Accept the standing US offer to hold joint naval patrols in the South China Sea, which includes Scarborough Shoal. This will demonstrate joint Philippine and US determination to prevent China from building on Scarborough Shoal.
5.) Avoid any act, statement or declaration that expressly or impliedly waives Philippine sovereignty to any Philippine territory in the West Philippine Sea. This will preserve for future generations of Filipinos their national patrimony in the West Philippine Sea.
Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio and former foreign secretary Albert del Rosario, for example, called on the government to file a diplomatic protest against China.
Vietnam, which claims the islands where Chinese bombers landed, has done this.
Del Rosario also said one step is for the Philippines to improve its defense posture and revisit its foreign policy.
The intended UN Resolution should request China and the international community to abide and implement The Hague Arbitral ruling of July 12, 2016.