‘Build build build’: Celebrities react to China’s militarization of West Philippine Sea
Image: Facebook/@iamjimparedes, Instagram/@agot_isidro, Facebook/@lourd.deveyra.58
Celebrities, artists and netizens shared their sentiments online after an exclusive INQUIRER.net report revealed images of China’s highly developed transformation of Philippine reefs into air and naval bases.
This is despite a Hague court ruling that rejected Beijing’s claim to historic rights to the “nine-dash” line which covers the entire contested area. China never acknowledged the case and was absent throughout the proceedings.
READ: New photos show China is nearly done with its militarization of South China Sea
Musician Jim Paredes had a suggestion for a new headline for the report: “Take a look at some Philippine Islands which were stolen and converted by China into man-made islands for their military purposes.”
Image: Twitter/@jimparedes
Musician, poet and broadcaster Lourd de Veyra wrote, “Thank you, China, for showing us the truest example of ‘Build, Build, Build!'”
Thank you, China, for showing us the truest example of "Build, Build, Build!" https://t.co/62FSGM2tRd
— Lourd de Veyra (@lourddv) February 5, 2018
“Build, Build, Build” is the name of the present administration’s program for infrastructure projects.
Actress Agot Isidro quoted the song “Bayan Ko” in relation to the news. “Dayuhan ay nahalina, Bayan ko, binihag ka, Nasadlak sa dusa,” she lamented. (Foreigners are drawn/My country, they enslaved you/Gave you endless suffering.)
'Dayuhan ay nahalina
Bayan ko, binihag ka,
Nasadlak sa dusa.' 😔https://t.co/2Vs7ZTXrqx— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) February 5, 2018
Gang Badoy-Capati of Rock Ed Philippines mused, “How do you say ‘build build build’ in Mandarin?”
How do you say "build build build" in Mandarin? 🤔
— Gang Capati (@gangbadoy) February 5, 2018
One netizen quipped, “Amin amin amin!” (Ours ours ours!)
Amin amin amin!
— MichyMe (@pinay_po_ako) February 5, 2018
She also wondered, “So, is the master strategy ‘to completely surrender our islands?… Go! Show ’em who’s boss! (them). ”
So, is the master strategy "to completely surrender our islands?"
There. That ought to take China by surprise. Hah! 🏆
Go! Show 'em who's boss! (them)
Champion. 👊🏼 #Jetski2016
— Gang Capati (@gangbadoy) February 5, 2018
Badoy-Capati also used the hashtag #Jetski2016, in reference to President Rodrigo Duterte’s claim during the presidential campaign:
“I will ask the Navy to bring me to the nearest point in South China Sea that is tolerable to them and I will ride a jet ski. I will carry a flag and when I reach Spratlys, I will erect the Filipino flag. I will tell them (Chinese), Suntukan o barilan? (Fist fight or gun fight?)”
Meanwhile, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque insisted that China’s militarization was not “news” and that the previous administration did not stop such actions over Philippine reefs.
READ: ‘What do they want us to do?’ Palace defends admin over China buildup on reef
“If the Aquino administration was not able to do anything about these artificial islands, what [do] they want us to do? We cannot declare war — not only is it illegal, but it is also contrary—but it’s also, because it’s impossible for us to declare war at this point,” he said.
It was during the Aquino administration that the Philippines protested China’s claims before the United Nations arbitral tribunal and won the majority of the cases.
Roque stated that what is important for the administration is to “maintain close ties” with China to prevent it from using “those arms in those islands” against the Philippines. JB
