China dalubhasa na sa ‘fake news’ — Barbers

PARA kay former Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers, isang ganap na “super power” ang bansang China sa larangan ng kasinungalingan sa hangaring baluktutin ang sitwasyon sa West Philippine Sea.

Sa isang kalatas, hayagang binatikos ni Barbers si Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan sa “we love peace” statement na inilabas ng embahada.

Ayon kay Barbers, nais lang ni Quan bigyan katwiran ang patuloy na agresyon ng China laban sa mga Pilipino sa loob ng 200-nautical mile Philippine exclusive economic zone.

“Are we supposed to thank Mr. Quan, be relieved, relaxed and reassured by those remarks? We have been bullied for years by them, in the waters of the West Philippine Sea. They have water cannoned our fishermen, coast guard and the civilian boats delivering supplies to our soldiers stationed at the Sierra Madre naval ship,” wika ni Barbers.

“They have hacked our soldiers with machetes, run over the boats of fishermen and rammed our ships. It is so sweet of Mr. Quan to describe these actions as peace loving. I am deeply touched, really, totally charmed and disarmed,” dugtong ng dating mambabatas.

“This ingrate disguised as a diplomat who wined and dined in our house has abused our hospitality and spit at our faces. Not having satisfied himself enough, he now threatens to kick us out of our house while mocking and forcing us to be grateful to him instead for not having done so yet.”

Hinggil naman sa na-master na umano ng China ang “art of lying”, iginiit ni Barbers na ang pambabaluktok sa usapin ng WPS ay isang “calculated campaign” ng Beijing para pahinain ang “sovereign rights” ng Pilipinas, lituhin ang international community, at palabasing sila pa ang biktima gayung ito ang patuloy na nagdudulot ng tensyon sa lugar.

“China cannot manufacture sovereignty by repeating lies, nor can it turn an unlawful claim into a legitimate one simply by spreading its version of the story,” punto ni Barbers.

Binigyan-diin ng former Surigao del Norte congressman na ang WPS ay hindi “battleground” para sa propaganda narratives, bagkus ito ay usapin na saklaw ng 2016 Arbitral ruling na nagbasura sa pag-angkin ng China gamit ang tinaguriang “nine-dash-line.”

Hinimok naman ni Barbers ang pamahalaan na agad na kontrahin ang naratibo ng China sa tuwing maglalabas ng kasinungalingan ang ang naturang bansa tungkol sa WPS.

“China may have the resources to amplify its propaganda, but it does not have the power to erase the truth. The West Philippine Sea belongs in the realm of international law—not in the manufactured narratives of Beijing.”