𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗲𝗕𝗼𝗻𝘁 ᜉᜓᜆ ᜀᜎ

Let us call this what it is! A foreign ambassador, on Philippine soil, before Filipino journalists, telling Filipinos that his country "may easily win" if it chooses to use force against us. That is not reassurance. That is a direct threat, and wrapping it in "we love peace" does not change what it is. Ambassador Jing Quan is a guest in this country. We received him, accredited him, and extended to him every courtesy owed to a diplomat. A guest who reminds his host that he could easily beat him up, but has graciously decided not to, is not describing friendship. He is threatening the very country that received him and asking us to be grateful for it. He says we should "feel fortunate" to have a neighbor like China. Our fishermen driven away from Bajo de Masinloc do not feel fortunate. Our Coast Guard personnel water-cannoned, rammed, and lasered in our own exclusive economic zone do not feel fortunate. No people feel fortunate when a larger neighbor repeatedly violates the law and then tells them to be thankful it was not worse. The threat or use of force is prohibited under Article 2(4) of the UN Charter. China's claims in the West Philippine Sea were ruled without legal basis by the 2016 Arbitral Award. The Philippines does not measure its rights by the size of its neighbor's military. We measure them by international law. Not using force against a country whose rights you are already violating is not peace. It is coercion by other means!