One of the highlights of this year’s State of the Nation Address was President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks of being “inutile” on China’s encroachment of disputed lands in the West Philippine Sea.
“So what can we do? We have to go to war and I cannot afford it. Maybe some other president can, but I cannot. Inutil ako diyan, sabihin ko sa inyo. And I’m willing to admit it. Talagang inutil ako diyan. Wala akong magawa.”
The presidential candidate who was known for his strong remarks against China during the 2016 Presidential Election has admitted being “inutile” towards China’s possession of the disputed lands in the West Philippine Sea.
Duterte, in his speech, stated that the government is working to safeguard the Philippines’ rights on the disputed West Philippine Sea. Duterte responded to critics who claimed that “nothing has been done” regarding the issue citing that the government has “worked without fail” and has “broadened the boundaries of Philippine diplomacy.”
In July 2016, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) published an arbitration ruling invalidating China’s claim on the West Philippine Sea. However, China rejected compliance to this ruling. China has historically been sighted taking exclusive control and increasing its naval patrol surrounding the disputed waters.
Duterte’s inutile statement was contradictory to his statement before his election. During the third presidential debate of the 2016 elections, Rodrigo Duterte vowed to ride a jet ski toward the disputed lands and plant the Philippine flag and assert sovereignty against China’s intrusion.
Moreover, Rappler reported that as the world struggles to contain the coronavirus pandemic, China has continued its activities in the West Philippine Sea. Accordingly, China continued to tail other countries’ ships, ram fishing boats, and provoke patrolled Philippine naval ships.
