To apologize or not to apologize

The more President Aquino  resists calls for him to apologize for the Hongkongers’ massacre in Luneta, the worse for his stature as a leader and as a compassionate man. His skills and understanding on how to use difficult situations to the country’s benefit are limited.

The dictionary definition of “apology” says there are different meanings to the word. One is to acknowledge an offence or a failure that I think stops Aquino from making an apology. He thinks that by apologizing he will be admitting that it is his fault. A selfie attitude.

Without accepting that it is his fault, an apology is to show compassion to the victims and their families

Neither am I surprised that bankers should come forward to cheer that attitude and say that his is the only sane reaction — ie not to apologize. They have a different set of values, but for us ordinary mortals an apology made in this spirit would have protected our interests in Hong Kong where several Filipinos live and work. Aquino’s resistance to apology has spun out to make him an inutile president and a heartless man. Whoever is advising him on the best course of action has failed to show the Philippine leader that apology has several meanings and it will depend on how it is expressed.

According to the bankers “the whole brouhaha is without a doubt linked to China’s adept to make Aquino toe Beijing’s line in the South China sea dispute.” Huh?  With or without an apology that can be done so I think this is a facetious interpretation of the dilemma for the Philippine leader. A stronger leader with a good heart would not see apology done for this reasons as bad in the ongoing conflict.

He could have apologized to express his regret to the victims and punish subalterns who did not do their job. Then he would have been a true leader to Filipinos who have found in Hong Kong a place to live and work in.

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From Xinhua comes a reply to a Japanese report that China is setting up an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the South China Sea. This is not a provocation to other claimants in the region. It is worth noting the background that Japan and the US have joined forces against China as a threat to hegemony in the region. That is the perspective to view criticisms of Chinese action in Asia that is increasing its regional and financial strength.

“In a general view, the Chinese side has yet to feel any air security threat from the ASEAN countries and is optimistic about its relations with the neighboring countries and the general situation in the South China Sea region,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a press release recently.

Even Asahi Shimbun daily of Japan, a prestigious newspaper did not think the ADIZ as a cause for alarm. Some sensationalist reporting in Manila media predicted this was a prelude to a war with China on one side and Japan and the US on another.

Asahi Shimbun has reported that China has drafted proposals for the Air Defense Identification Zone over the South China Sea.

Hong blames right-wing forces of Japan for the alarmist reports that the ADIZ was China’s “alleged plan to protect the South China Sea.”

Wary readers are not informed that the right wing Japanese leaders are behind ringing alarm bells because its agenda is “to shift international attention from and cover up the plot to change Japan’s pacifist constitution and expand its military power.”

“We sternly warn these forces not to mislead public opinion with rumors and play up tensions for their own selfish benefit,” Hong said.

Where does the Philippines stand in all this political skirmishing now being encouraged by right wing, militaristic Japanese politicians.

“China and the ASEAN countries are working together to implement the declaration on the conduct of parties in the South China Sea in a comprehensive and effective way to safeguard peace and stability in the region.

Hong also deplored US officials’ alarmist comments. “China hopes the relevant parties remain cautious about their words and deeds, maintain a calm and objective stance, make joint efforts with China and make concrete contribution to peace, stability and security in the air and on sea of the region.”

 â€œChina, as a sovereign country, has all the legitimate rights to adopt all measures, including setting up ADIZ, to safeguard national security in response to the situation of air security.”      

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A Philippine think-tank on ‘the management of the sea’ ventured its own opinion.

“Some people say that China’s requirement of reporting flight plans is unusual, actually there is no unified international rule as to how to ask other countries to report flight plans to the ADIZ demarcators. Many countries require aircraft flying over their air defense identification zones to report flight plans beforehand. China is not special in doing so. Actually, since the announcement of the East China Sea ADIZ, a majority of civil aviation companies with their air routes traversing the area have reported flight plans to China’s civil aviation department, including some airlines of Japan. We have also noticed that some countries’ military planes took it seriously after China’s announcement of the East China Sea ADIZ. China’s requirement of reporting flight plans and relevant information is conducive to ensuring flight safety and avoiding misunderstanding and misjudgment, considering heavy air traffic in airspace over the East China Sea. A very few countries’ insistence on not reporting flight plans is not beneficial, nor responsible.”

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China is making continued efforts to assist the Philippines in the reconstruction of Typhoon Yolanda affected areas. A cargo vessel that carried 800 metric tons of rice donated by the Chinese government, as consigned to the Philippine National Food Authority, arrived at the Port of Cebu on Feb. 1, 2014.

That is where the Philippines’ diplomatic efforts must concentrate — on how to make use of aid from countries around the world regardless of their own political infighting, whether it is from Japan, US or China. Aid is being coordinated with the regional headquarters for Asean aid based in Thailand.