Former President Benigno Aquino has chosen to see the good in the Philippines’ loss of control of Scarborough Shoal when he was in power in 2012.
In an interview with Eagle News Tuesday (July 23), Aquino said the Philippines would not have challenged China’s nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea before an international court were it not for Beijing’s occupation of Scarborough Shoal.
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“Sabi nila, ‘Sorry naloko tayo dito.’ Hindi. Ang dulo nito, umabot tayo sa arbitral ruling para magkaroon ng liwanag na may inaangkin kayo, may inaangkin kami, merong mekanismo para malaman sino tama. Idinulog natin sa tribunal, nanalo tayo at siguro ng Tsina aminado na mula umpisa malabo ang posisyon niya kaya di sumali,” he said.
The Philippines effectively lost control of Scarborough Shoal on April 2012 when the government pulled out the vessel stationed there during a tense standoff with China.
Aquino said the government arrived at the decision to withdraw the vessel from Scarborough Shoal because the United States intervened and asked both the Philippines and China to pull their vessels out from the area.
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“Parang binigyan ng solusyon ang lahat ng panig. Parehong ayaw mapahiya. Yung sa kanila yung loss of face. Dumating ang isang sinasabi nating parang neutral na party dito at siya ang gumitna para sabihin pareho tayong aatras para walang napahiya,” he said.
Aquino said he found the US’ suggestion “reasonable” so the government pulled out its vessel. China, however, refused to leave the area.
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“Ang masakit lang, noong tayo ay umalis, sila hindi umalis. At pagkatapos noon noong biglang inaangkin nila, na hindi raw sila nakipagkasundo,” he said.
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This article first appeared on Politiko.
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