Navigating our West Philippine Sea foreign policies

The year 2025, the Year of the Snake, presents to us tremendous opportunities to take charge of our own destiny. We should decide here and now to stop being bullied by China and also cease being dictated by the US on how to run this country from here on.

This year, we should expect an unprecedented escalation of Beijing's violations of UNCLOS, its illegal intrusions into our maritime territories and exclusive economic zones. China's shameless harassment against our fishermen and navy patrols, and Xi Jinping's strategic and tactical moves to construct more and more artificial islands in the contested territories shall continue relentlessly. It is high time that we use the 10 principles of Success enunciated by China's own Sun Tzu in his The Art of War"

First and foremost, the Philippines should stop believing that China will relent in its strategic moves to use superior force against our national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Philippines should also cease in its romantic notion that the US will always come to aid and support us in defending the West Philippine Sea. And we hasten to add, that when push comes to shove, Beijing will get the support of both Moscow and Pyongyang in attacking the Philippines.

And now that President Donald Trump will take over the world's most powerful nation, the Philippines should make sure that we strategize our moves well in navigating our foreign policy decisions over turbulent waters, in the light of Xi Jinping's relentless thrusts to increase the tensions in the South China Sea, and given the emerging alliance between Beijing and Moscow against the US. Second, our nation and people should be able to paddle our own canoes, using Sun Tzu's fundamental principles.

Third, we should learn to take charge of our own national destiny, prepare to fight on our own and not just keep on hoping for US aid. Struggle is an integral component of an individual and a nation's life. We should strengthen our armed forces, train our citizens and instill a sense of patriotism among our people. Fourth, we must be led by true and genuine leaders who, according to Confucius, Sun Tzu's contemporary philosopher, must have the strong characteristics of a sense of purpose, vision, rectitude, discipline, competence and love of country and people.

Fifth, our foreign policies should be independent and with honor and dignity, adherence to the rule of law and refusal to be bullied by bigger and mightier nations regardless of ideology.  Sixth, our leaders, both of national defense and foreign affairs, must make effective decisions to do the right things and make the proper moves at proper times in coordination with the right allies, whether US, NATO, EU, ASEAN or other community of nations with shared values and principles.

Seventh, we should always know the facts on the ground, document all the illegal acts of the adversary, like China, and expose them to the global multi-media, using all technology and platforms for the whole world to shame the unlawful acts of our neighboring predators and probable invaders. Eighth, we must maximize our strategic alliances with Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, Netherlands and the more friendly ASEAN fellow members and cultivate stronger ties with our European allies among the EU member nations.

Ninth, realign our economic trade and financial policies to be congruent with and complementary to our political, legal and security policies viz-a-viz Beijing. We should explore markets other than China and increase our economic ties with Latin American and European as well as Middle Eastern economies so that we progressively lessen our reliance on the Chinese markets. And tenth, we should enhance our technology in communications, information, infra build up and master the new frontiers of AI, in order to leap frog our global competitive edge.

If we remain subservient to Washington and continue being afraid of Beijing, we shall remain the laughing stock among more independent ASEAN countries, and more assertive Asian economies, from the easternmost Israel to the westernmost Pacific island nations. like Samoa, Fiji, Nauru and Micronesia.

Among the ASEAN member states, we are now being left behind by Thailand and Vietnam. Let us not wait for Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos to overtake us in the overall race among southeast Asian nations and economies. We should shape up or ship out.