Why take a neutral stand?

The political and military advisers of the President made him appear ridiculous when he issued a statement that the country will remain neutral amid the escalating conflict between People’s Republic of China and Taiwan. Political analysts were appalled at that sudden pronouncement. Many were surprised because there is really no room for the Philippines to stay neutral in the heightened tension between the two.

Third, our hasty declaration only exposed how we failed to measure the gravity of our decision. Fourth, a position of neutrality unnecessarily vexed our friendship with China which today stands as our most prosperous and generous economic benefactor. Fifth, our declaration of neutrality impliedly exposed our motive to commit ourselves to the “One-China” policy as pre-condition to our opening of diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.

Even if we cite the economic benefits, that decision by President Marcos was made during his visit in June 1976 and there was a precondition that we have to cut ties with Taiwan. In fact, China remained diplomatic when it allowed Taiwan to maintain their economic representatives in Manila despite our blatant violation of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic protocol.

Our pronouncement of neutrality effectively means we are reneging our promise to honor the “One-China” Policy. According Lucio Pitlo of the Asia Way of Progress Foundation, the pronouncement of the President is “confined to the narrow circle of national security; that the use of Philippine military bases under the VFA and EDCA agreement could put the Philippines “in Beijing’s line of fire. This is especially true of US ships or warplanes sail or take off from Philippine military basis.

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