He accused China of “duplicity” and “intimidation” at the 2012 Asean Ministerial Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This week, at the 2013 Asean Ministerial Meeting in Brunei, he blasted the neighboring behemoth again saying the “massive presence of Chinese military and paramilitary ships” is destabilizing the region.
Philippine diplomats accompanying him related proudly to reporters how the foreign secretary refuted the accusations of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that the Philippines is stirring tension in the South China Sea during last Sunday’s Asean plus three (China, Japan, South Korea) meeting.
The diplomats said Del Rosario stood up, even if he was not scheduled to rebut Wang.
That’s why many were disappointed with Del Rosario’s “we have no money” reason to Wang’s complaint about the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, about 21 nautical miles away from Mischief Reef occupied by China in 1995 in the Spratlys.
China and Taiwan claim ownership of the whole South China Sea while the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia are claiming parts of the vast area.
He said Wang asserted that “Scarborough and Ayungin were theirs, historically, and we were the ones sending ships, interdicting their fishermen, and the grounded ship has been there for so long.”
He said he replied to Wang, ”We don’t have money to move it.”
He added, “So they’re offering to do it themselves.”
Asked by reporters what was his reply, he said “Nothing.”
Asked further what the other members whom the Philippines considered their allies said, Del Rosario replied: “Nothing.”
Del Rosario explained that “Intervention (during the session) is only one time. I have already spoken. But I think that means the Philippines is important because half of his (Wang) intervention was on the Philippines.”
China and Asean will be meeting in September and Del Rosario said “Hopefully they would show us the way forward.”
There are some who thought Del Rosario’s reaction was dismissive of Wang like Becky who posted in my blog: “Naisahan natin ang China! I love it. I like Secretary Del Rosario’s ‘nothing’ reaction. With matching dismissive air.”
Christopher, in his comment in Yahoo, saw it that way too. He said, “Isa lang ang ibig sabihin ni secretary sa ‘nothing’. Sa arbitration panel ka na magpaliwanag.”
The Philippines has filed a petition with the United Nations arbitration panel to declare China’s nine-dash line map illegal. China has refused to participate in the UN process.
But Alejandro Abaya said in Facebook, “Would it be wishful thinking if Secretary Del Rosario made a comeback remark by telling the Chinese delegate that ‘we could also remove your structures, at no cost’ too. Comeback!”
Elmer , also in Yahoo, said: ”With due respect to Secretary Del Rosario, I think his quick reaction should have been to politely tell the Chinese foreign minister that under no circumstance can we remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal, for a very simple reason – the shoal is Philippine territory, not anybody else’s.”
Rommel in Yahoo was blunt: “A stupid proposition countered by a stupid reply. So stupid indeed!”
His “nothing” reply may be perceived in different ways. I had to look him up to see what his nothing could have meant, having seen his credentials and experience — I think that too was a dismissive retort.
A stupid reply for a stupid proposal.
A stupid reply for a stupid proposal.
Pwede nating sabihin sa mga Intsik; “eat your dust.” or “eat your own stupidity.”
Ginawa na rin kasi ng mga tsekwa iyan noon. Natatandaan nyo pa ba yung minsang forum ng ginawa sa Manila, kung saan yung nasa hot seat ay yung isang Chinese diplomat yata yun?
May nagtanong sa kanya tungkol dun sa 9 dash line. Diba tumunganga lang yung tangang Chinese at wala siyang isinagot?
9 dash ling without grid coordinates. When the chink was asked about it, we had nothing for an answer.
Truly history repeats itself. Sana matandaan din iyan ni Wang Yi
“…………That’s why many were disappointed with Del Rosario’s “we have no money” reason to Wang’s complaint ………..”
del rosario clearly admitted that the philippines is used only to begging.
can’t imagine another top cabinet member said something like that instead of “the shoal is Philippine territory, not anybody else’s” as Elmer’s above.
Anne de Bretagne in FB:
I personally appreciate DFA Sec del Rosario but that one quip was really not the stuff DFA secretaries should say. Why does this country want to project a state of wanton poverty all the time? Is it necessary?
I would say, made us even appear poorer than we ever are. In my view, it was Wang who had the upper hand in that repartee: synonimous to “Look, if you are so poor, then we, generous that we are, will do it for you…”
Sec del Rosario could have been just as dismissive (if he had really wanted just to dismiss Wang) had he just simply said, “It’s good where it is…” PERIOD.