The bigger picture

By Alex P. Vidal

“There will be no whitewash in the White House.”—Richard M. Nixon

THE White House meeting between US President Joe Biden and Philippine President Bongbong Marcos Jr. on May 1 will be the bigger picture in the ongoing saga involving EDCA and China’s growing assertiveness in the region, not the controversial speech of Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian on the overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in Taiwan that was blown out of proportions.

We are glad that President Marcos Jr. didn’t bite the bait of Senator Riza Hontiveros who sought for Ambassador Huang’s expulsion after he supposedly “advised” the Philippines “to unequivocally oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ rather than stoking the fire by offering the US access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait if you care genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs” there.

We also expressed disagreement with the harsh response made by Hontiveros and those with knee-jerk reactions to the Chinese envoy’s speech before the Association for Philippines-China Understanding (Apcu) on April 14 in Pasig City.

We exploded angrily in February this year when a Chinese ship sprayed the Filipino crew with laser light hitting a Philippine coast guard vessel with a military-grade laser and temporarily blinding some of our crew in the disputed South China Sea.

That anger was justified.

But when Hontiveros, et al took potshots at Huang’s speech, they demanded for his exit without realizing that he had the right to say something as envoy and to exercise his right to freedom of expression in democratic Philippines.

That was overreaction and unnecessary.

If Huang’s words carried a deadly laser, it would be another story.

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Meanwhile, in an apparent sign of a warming bond between the two nations amid US tensions with China over Taiwan, Mr. Biden will welcome Mr. Marcos Jr. to the White House in Washington D.C.

No less than White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierra had confirmed that Biden will reaffirm Washington’s “ironclad commitment to the defense of the Philippines, and the leaders will discuss efforts to strengthen the long-standing US-Philippines alliance.”

The announcement of official US visit developed almost a week after the launching of the largest-ever joint US-Philippines military exercises in the disputed South China Sea in the face of China’s growing assertiveness in the region, particularly over Taiwan, the self-governing island it claims as its own.

Mr. Biden and Mr. Marcos Jr. would reportedly discuss other matters including economic cooperation, clean energy and respect for human rights.

“The two leaders will also discuss regional matters and coordinate on efforts to uphold international law and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said the White House statement.

China warned last week the expanded military deal could endanger regional peace, and accused Washington of a “zero-sum mentality.”

The four additional bases include sites near the hotly disputed South China Sea and another not far from Taiwan.

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STRESS CAN DESTROY OUR SKIN. A continual menu of stress causes the skin to become sensitive and prone to breakouts. Regular exercise and mediation will help diffuse its effects. Lying on a bed with our head hanging down off the side is a super destresser.

GOD. What facts will prove the existence of God? Theist’s proof: It is stated in the Bible. Atheist’s reply: Not all statements in the Bible are true. Theist’s proof: It experiences God in a vision. Atheist’s reply: Mere hallucinations, doesn’t prove anything.

CALMNESS. Self-centeredness inhibits our love for others, and we are all afflicted by it to one degree or another. For true happiness to come about, we need a calm mind, and such peace of mind is brought about only by a compassionate attitude. (How to develop compassion, The Compassionate Life)

TRUTH is the kind of error without which a certain species of life could not live. The value for life is ultimately decisive. (The Will to Power)

NERVES. The tip of the clitoris has about 8,000 nerve endings–more than anywhere else on the human body. (Cosmopolitan)

PERICLES. Millions of people today know of Nebuchadnezzar, and have never heard of Pericles, simply because Nebuchadnezzar is mentioned prominently in the Bible and Pericles, the father of Athens, is never mentioned at all.

The Boy Scouts of America will pay $2.4 million to compensate thousands of sexual abuse victims after emerging from bankruptcy April 19, the organization announced. The money will be paid out from a Victims Compensation Trust that was established by the court during its bankruptcy reorganization.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)