PRRD and China
China have been at the receiving end of history and
while America is still the dominant power, China is an emerging power. History will teach us that whenever there is
a face-off between the dominant power versus the emerging power, the dominant
power will always prevail but only at a certain level - over time, as more
conflict and confrontation arises, the dominant power loses its edge and the
emerging power eventually assumes the leadership position.
America is still the dominant and the only true
superpower left in the planet, bus such a position is not forever. Sooner or later, China will take over and
that would be the end of that political equation.
As of this date, China is starting to challenge and flex
its muscle. Testing the resolve of the
dominant power whether it would yield its hold on contested geopolitical
footholds or grudgingly let go and face the inevitable.
Somewhere in the middle of this geopolitical Olympics is
the Philippines. Traditionally, the
Philippines is an ally of America but in its last presidential elections, the
country elected an unusual president in the person of Rodrigo R. Duterte. What makes his election unusual is that PRDD
is currently pivoting his foreign affairs policies from a pro-US stance to a
pro-China stance.
While the country was always accused of being a lapdog
or a client state of USA, now the same country is changing its master. From a US western direction, to an eastern China
stance.
China is on the threshold of replacing USA as a dominant
power and the struggle is currently afoot.
Realistically, it would still be around 2050 before China could really
claim its billing, but challenges are now being faced head on.
While the presidential victory of PRRD was no surprise,
his pivot towards China was totally unexpected and was never politically
predicted. The ramifications of his win
is still being digested and the political results are still in the process of
re-shaping RP-US relations as well as RP-China relations.
PRRD is the oldest elected Philippine president and the
most vocal one, in terms of juvenile delinquency. His tirades and cussing were once directed at
the US president, the Pope, the UN Secretary General or anyone who is
considered to be a western player.
At the opposing end, PRRD is all praises for China. Though the previous administration won a
historic legal victory against China, PRRD is suspending or watering down the
legal victory by dancing to the tune of Chinese beat.
To this date, he is currently in China, in a state
visit, soliciting funds and loans to make up for the loans that he rejected
from the west since they carry a string that is politically and philosophically
against his dictatorial tendencies.
The common regret now of the electors is that they voted
for someone who is morally and philosophically unqualified to run the country
from the presidential office. They
elected someone who takes a short-cut in curing criminality, poverty, and judicial
cases.
Someone who instead of filing cases will just simply
resort to extra judicial killings, someone who would borrow the future – to
ease the current hardship and someone who bullies people rather than command
and earn their respect.
Such is the irony of PRRD and China.
April 25, 2019
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