Cayetano: Defend sovereignty but pursue diplomacy
“Trouble should be seen as an opportunity for order, an opportunity for better relations, an opportunity for discussions, an opportunity for diplomacy.”
This was the message of Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Sunday as he called for a measured approach to disputes involving the Philippines and China, stressing that the country must defend its sovereignty and sovereign rights while preventing tensions from escalating into a bigger problem.
In a Facebook livestream on October 18, Cayetano addressed the broader issue of managing disputes with China, emphasizing the need to defend Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights while preventing tensions from escalating into a bigger problem.
His remarks came amid reactions to Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan’s statement that China could easily win if it chose to use force against the Philippines, although Beijing preferred peace. The remark drew criticism from Philippine officials, with the Department of Foreign Affairs describing it as a “thinly veiled threat.”
“Yes, we should stand up for our rights. Yes, hindi tayo dapat magpabully sa sarili po nating bansa. Having said that, there is always a way to be able to manage issues and problems. And there’s also a way of looking at countries where you have disputes. You don’t have a single focal point,” he said.
A former Foreign Affairs Secretary, Cayetano stressed that defending the country’s rights should go hand in hand with preventing disputes from worsening, particularly when ordinary Filipinos could ultimately bear the consequences.
“If trouble will end up in bigger trouble, it’s the ordinary Filipino who will be in trouble,” he said.
The senator also warned against allowing the Philippines to be drawn too deeply into the broader rivalry between the United States and China, noting that excessive focus on geopolitical tensions could divert attention from pressing domestic concerns.
He said the country must simultaneously protect its sovereignty and sovereign rights while addressing El Niño, the cost of electricity and fuel, unemployment, investments, corruption, and problems in flood control.
“If we’re going to be dragged in to the US-China dispute and ang magiging paraan na ma-drag in tayo diyan ay ang West Philippine Sea, magsasuffer tayo,” he said.
Cayetano pointed to Southeast Asia’s experience under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), recalling how countries with significant political, cultural, religious, and ideological differences managed to avoid major conflict through regional cooperation.
He noted that the Philippines had historically played a leading role in promoting peace in the region.
“Through God’s grace and mercy, y’ung ASEAN, the framework played a good role. And you know what? The Philippines was in the forefront — peacemaker po ang Pilipinas,” he said.
Ultimately, Cayetano urged the country to avoid viewing foreign policy through the lens of choosing between major powers and instead base its decisions on Philippine interests.
“Don’t be pro-US, don’t be pro-China, don’t be anti-China, don’t be anti-US. Be pro-Philippines. Kasi pag pro-Philippines, hindi ka magkakamali,” he said.
Filipino Version
Cayetano: Ipagtanggol ang soberanya, pairalin ang diplomasya
“Trouble should be seen as an opportunity for order, an opportunity for better relations, an opportunity for discussions, an opportunity for diplomacy.”
Ito ang panawagan ni Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano nitong Linggo sa gitna ng mga sigalot sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at China, kung saan iginiit niyang kailangang ipagtanggol ng bansa ang soberanya at karapatan nito habang iniiwasang lumala ang tensyon.
Sa isang Facebook livestream nitong October 18, binigyang diin ni Cayetano na dapat pairalin ang mahinahong pagharap sa mga hindi pagkakaunawaan upang hindi mauwi sa mas malaking problema ang mga ito.
Kasunod ito ng naging pahayag ni Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan na madaling mananalo ang China kung gagamit ito ng puwersa laban sa Pilipinas, bagaman mas nais umano ng Beijing ang kapayapaan. Binatikos ang pahayag na ito ng mga opisyal ng Pilipinas, habang inilarawan naman ito ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) bilang isang “thinly veiled threat.”
“Yes, we should stand up for our rights. Yes, hindi tayo dapat magpabully sa sarili po nating bansa. Having said that, there is always a way to be able to manage issues and problems. And there’s also a way of looking at countries where you have disputes. You don’t have a single focal point,” wika Cayetano.
Bilang dating Foreign Affairs secretary, iginiit ni Cayetano na dapat sabayan ng pagtatanggol sa karapatan ng bansa ang pagsisikap na hindi lumala ang mga sigalot, lalo’t maaaring ang mga ordinaryong Pilipino ang magdusa sa mga magiging epekto nito.
“If trouble will end up in bigger trouble, it’s the ordinary Filipino who will be in trouble,” wika niya.
Nagbabala rin ang senador laban sa labis na pagkakasangkot ng Pilipinas sa mas malawak na tunggalian sa pagitan ng United States at China. Aniya, hindi dapat matabunan ng mga usaping geopolitikal ang mas agarang problemang kinahaharap ng mga Pilipino.
Kabilang dito ang paghahanda sa El Niño, mataas na presyo ng kuryente at langis, kawalan ng trabaho, pangangailangan ng mga mamumuhunan, korapsyon at mga problema sa mga proyektong flood control.
“If we’re going to be dragged in to the US-China dispute and ang magiging paraan na ma-drag in tayo diyan ay ang West Philippine Sea, magsasuffer tayo,” wika ni Cayetano.
Bilang halimbawa, binanggit ni Cayetano ang karanasan ng mga bansa sa Southeast Asia sa ilalim ng Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), na nagsilbing daan upang mapanatili ang kooperasyon sa kabila ng magkakaibang sistemang pampolitika, kultura, relihiyon at ideolohiya ng mga miyembro nito.
Ayon sa senador, naging mahalaga ang papel ng Pilipinas sa pagtataguyod ng kapayapaan sa rehiyon.
“Through God’s grace and mercy, y’ung ASEAN, the framework played a good role. And you know what? The Philippines was in the forefront — peacemaker po ang Pilipinas,” wika niya.
Binigyang diin ni Cayetano na sa pagharap sa mga usaping panlabas, hindi dapat nakabatay sa pagpili ng panig sa pagitan ng malalaking kapangyarihan ang mga desisyon ng Pilipinas. Sa halip, dapat unahin ang kapakanan at interes ng bansa.
“Don’t be pro-US, don’t be pro-China, don’t be anti-China, don’t be anti-US. Be pro-Philippines. Kasi pag pro-Philippines, hindi ka magkakamali,” wika niya.
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