A house in disarray
By constitutional fiat and by the intrinsic nature of his office, the President, as head of state, is the sole organ and authority in the country’s external affairs. In many ways, the President is the chief architect of the nation’s foreign policy. This is how the President’s power has been invariably described in terms of international relations with other countries.
The recent statements made by President Duterte that his promise to go the West Philippine Sea to assert the country’s rights in the disputed waters was just a pure campaign joke does not speak well of a person whose public statements form part of his policies on foreign relations. What is even more disturbing is his statement that the country’s victory at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague is just a “piece of paper to be thrown away.”
House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, one of the President’s apologists, attempted to contain the damage by explaining that the President was just expressing his sentiments about the very difficult task of balancing diplomatic relations, national interest, and economic recovery amidst an unprecedented global pandemic. True, dealing with the superpowers in the arena of international relations is extremely difficult for a developing country. With this reality, is it not that the President is supposed to be circumspect and guard his mouth against mincing words that can be misinterpreted as relinquishing a right that an international tribunal has already recognized?
While it is true that the Philippines does not have the same military power as that of Israel to resist any unlawful aggression from China, the President must not hand over a portion of our national territory on a silver platter. There are several other tools of foreign policy that the country can use other than waging war. Consistency and coherence in public pronouncements from the President to his alter egos and down to the lowest ranking employee of the government is an important factor in enforcing the country’s rights over its national territory.
Coherence and clarity are important to gain support from citizens to rally behind what the President believes to be the best course of action to force China to respect the country’s sovereign rights. However, the President’s statements are mired with inconsistencies and ambiguities, not to mention his declaration that his campaign promise was just a joke. Filipinos do not know whether this administration continues to pressure China to respect the arbitral ruling or is already dining with the enemy.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. could have been a candle in the middle of the darkness with his candid public statements insisting that China respect our national territory. But his recent spat with Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque as to who should speak on the country’s international relations and Roque’s defiance of Locsin’s rebuke to leave foreign relations to him gives China a strategic advantage.
When the house is in disarray, and every household member is fighting against each other, victory comes to the enemy even without lifting a finger.