CPP: Lorenzana chickens out of China tit-for-tat

CPP propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Jun 21, 2019): Lorenzana chickens out of China tit-for-tat

Knowing that Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is the highest active agent of the US imperialists in the Duterte cabinet, it is interesting to see how he chickened out from his earlier bellicose statements over the June 9 Recto Bank incident which he himself initiated, and eventually backed down and echoed Duterte’s spineless position to downplay the incident.

In his statements, Lorenzana strongly condemned the Chinese fishing vessel that rammed a Filipino fishing boat last June 9 and abandoned the Filipino crew. He also demanded that China apologize for the incident. His statements appears to be timed with the US announcement of its plans to deploy a US Coast Guard cutter, the USS Stratton, to purportedly “help protect” the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. US officials further stated that similar incidents of “attacks” could trigger the Mutual Defense Treaty, a position supported by some politicians.

The combative position which Lorenzana and the US took aimed to put China on a defensive. However, to Lorenzana’s chagrin, Duterte came to China’s defense and shamelessly echoed its statements that the ramming was “a simple maritime accident,” even if he insisted that an investigation must still be carried out. (Not surprisingly, after being “invited” by the Malacañang boss, the Filipino fishermen eventually modified their earlier statement to make them fit with China and Duterte’s line, and are now under pressure to forever keep their mouths shut.)

As things turn out, this round of political fireworks goes to China, with the US coming in as second winner. With Duterte’s spinelessness, China continues to insist on its claims over the Philippine seas even as the US continues to justify its imperial right to deploy its military forces on the country’s territorial waters.

In the end, it is the Filipino people, especially the Filipino fishermen, who are the big losers. Not only has Duterte failed to pursue justice for the victims of the Recto Bank incident, more importantly, it has again allowed China and the US to use the country as a playground for their big power brawls.

https://www.philippinerevolution.info/2019/06/21/lorenzana-chickens-out-of-china-tit-for-tat/