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China and the World

By Apolinario Villalobos

While China has tricked the US in the latter’s ploys in Asia, it has gone way ahead of Russia in territorial expansion. While the US uses its “big brother” approach, China uses cheap labor as the main factor in becoming an economic giant which made practically the whole world dependent on its cheap and fake products. No wonder why no country, even the United Nations, ever made an attempt to slap China with some kind of an embargo or boycott, which has been the practice to punish other countries, despite its unbecoming actions, particularly,  its reclamations at the West Philippine Sea.

While the US has not done anything yet, as regards territorial expansion, Russia uses force and has been successful in the Ukraine region, and China on the other hand, uses its “resourcefulness” by building fake islands to legally extend its territories, as well as, money to win the confidence of economically-ailing nations.

The ASEAN is obviously helpless in counteracting the moves of China, with most members even blatantly showing their once covert image as allies. There is no hope for the Philippines on the other hand as regards the West Philippine Sea, as even if the United Nations shall decide on its favor, there is a question on how the decision shall be implemented. China is a member of the Security Council of the UN, together with the USA, France and Russia. While the US is obviously helpless even in checking the ongoing reclamations in the West Philippine Sea, France is helplessly silent on the woeful issues that are now befalling third-world member countries, and Russia is clearly on China’s side because it is also doing what the latter is doing, aside from their obvious close relationship to date due to their common objectives. That is the sad picture of the United Nations which China could have perceived a few years after the WWII!

China has already made its presence in the African continent strongly felt with its various investments disguised as “aids”. The nearby Mediterranean could be the next target, thanks to the economic downfall of Greece which China could be regarding as a timely opportunity for their entry into the Mediterranean region. If Greece will eventually get out of the European Union, it will be on its own, but how can it be possible without help from outside, unless drastic moves by the government shall be made such as declaring a Martial Law to enforce stringent measures on spending? The issue on Greece is money. If the Greeks would like to recover from their misfortune, there are so many things that they should sacrifice, so that they will be left with a difficult choice – give up luxurious life under a Martial Law? Or, still enjoy the same life under a “caretaker country” such as China through its “aids”. There is no way for the US to get into the picture because it is also indebted to China.

China could have foreseen the problem of the world which is centered on money that is why it has initiated the organization of AIIB which gained many members in so short a time after the launching. If the image of the United Nations as a reliable organization of nations continues to slide, the World Bank would definitely follow suit. There is no problem with the UN as it has been seen as a helpless organization anyway, so it can just melt away. Besides, the world is seemingly being apportioned today, either three-way or two- way: three-way among the USA, China and Russia, or just two-way between Russia and China. It will be a goodbye to the “manifest destiny” of America as fighter for democracy…and a welcome to the “economic destiny” of China!

Is the world nearing the epoch of “world confederacy”?... in which all nations shall be federated under a permanent leader while left as they are with their own cultural identity?...in which only one monetary token shall be used?...in which two or three universal languages shall be used?...in which the ideology shall be the “hybrid communism”?

On the Philippine Leadership’s Integrity                           

By Apolinario Villalobos

The world is ruled in pockets by different kinds of government. They differ in ideology, as while some espouse democracy, others adhere to communism. Some are found to be effective, but some are beset with unrest, indication of their constituents’ mistrust. The people’s trust is hinged on the integrity of leadership. These are shown by giant nations such as Russia, the People’s Republic of China, and North Korea, all of which have leaders who had a steadfast hold on to their mandate because of their people’s trust. On the democratic side, worth mentioning are the United States of America and Japan. Command responsibility as the kernel of leadership makes the leader feel that his being at the helm of his nation could cost his life and honor.

Lately, the leader of Korea vacated his post due to the sensational mishap that involved the sinking of a ferry carrying students on their way to an island. Japan is no stranger to this honorable observance of “command responsibility”, even the Chinese and the Americans. But in the Philippines, although, the evidences of crimes committed by government officials would cram the pages of dailies, as well as, testimonies straight from the lips of their cohorts, they still hold on shamelessly to their posts. Even the conditional leave of absence while investigations are going on, is far from their mind. This attitude that smacks of egocentricity puts the whole nation in a dubious situation in the eyes of the whole world.

In the Philippines, the justice system is shamelessly abused by personalities with doubtful integrity – they, who are supposed to be models of righteousness, well-educated, progenies of some respectable families whose names even grace the pages of the country’s history. Unfortunately, they have become the stains of the Filipino race. 

Every time the current president speaks about accomplishment or difficulty to move on, he always mentions the supposed corruptions of the previous administration. But unconsciously, as he points one accusing finger at the previous administration, three fingers of the same hand are pointing at him…his own administration which is cowering due to simultaneous investigations of his people on the same issue – corruption. And, yet, he has the courage to ask the Filipinos to choose the right person who will replace him, a person who would continue what he started. Those who read in dailies his rhetoric just raise their eyebrows, as they have yet to know what he did worthy of what he is asking for.