Social Issue: A Rapid Surge of Chinese Investments and Tourism in the Philippines Under Pres.

Rodrigo Duterte’s Administration

In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Course of
Ethics
PHLO102

Submitted By: Christina C. Aure

Submitted To: Prof. Pedro T. Dotillos Jr.
 With the scattered presence of Chinese nationals in different spheres and activities of our
country, it can be deduced that they continue to form an integral part of our society. History says
it all. Whether taken through the lens of an economic, cultural and social perspective, there is more
than one Chinese painting a picture of success in our national endeavors.

China has indeed already established a giant and dominant economic player in the Asia
and even across the world. They constitute the ‘most and largest’ in the world such as the most
populous nation, world’s largest foreign exchange, world’s largest consumer of energy and even
our largest trading partner last year. In an article posted by Philippine Star (2018), China is the
Philippines' top bilateral trading partner, with Manila's exports to Beijing increasing by 8.4 percent
last year. China was also the fourth largest market destination for Philippine exports in January,
with Manila sending $591.91 million worth of goods to the Asian superpower.

In addition, the country’s investment landscape still even has remnants or rather a large
remnant of their influence. According to Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (2017), President Duterte
has secured a deal worth $15 billion of investment projects that mostly tap the program of “Build,
Build, Build” through focusing on infrastructures and extended roads. There is also another $9.8
billion worth of investment plans from Chinese companies in construction, electronics, agriculture,
tourism and pharmaceutical sectors which could generate some 10, 800 jobs as what reiterated by
the Trade Department (2018).

Aside from its large investments, China serves as the second largest source of tourists for
the Philippines. There has been a total of 764, 094 arrivals from January to July 2018 (Department
of Tourism, 2018). Though this staggering number can be taken in an advantageous viewpoint,
there exists a small portion or even more extensive to which we are unaware of that contradicts
the latter. In a Senate inquiry this year, it was disclosed that the labor department has issued almost
52,000 alien employment permits for workers from China which means that our already narrow
workforce is much more limited. This halts jobs to our own countrymen to which a large number
remains unemployed where the common response is to find job opportunities abroad. According
to Lester Yupingkun, managing director of Strongbond Products Philippines: “[Now] there are
condos populated entirely by mainland Chinese. The share of the Filipino middle class on the other
hand has been shrinking.”
 Inasmuch as these can serve as possible sources of revenues which open various
opportunities towards a fast-track development, there should be a proper deliberation to the risks
it poses. Such financial aid may carry self-benefitting political and economic interests that can
undermine our sovereignty. But what if it can be logically assume that it might be already
happening? West Philippine Sea could be a one out of numerous collaterals or leverages with
consideration of Pres. Duterte’s soft stance to this issue.

Their growing presence and influence over our country catalyzes the thought and
inhibitions to our settled yet still disputed maritime territory in which the former’s creeping power
may extend deeply to the whole jurisdictional area of the Philippines. Our sovereignty and
sovereign rights pose a possibility of deterioration most essentially by bargaining our own
authority to run our local affairs.

With all the factors being considered, who knows that we, Filipinos, can become a minority
in our own country? The canny implication of John Stuart Mill can be cleverly denoted in this
current situation which states that “it is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied;
better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied.” A genuine satisfaction is much better if it
is with the higher standard of a higher being. It is Surely, an economic boom with the help of China
does not necessarily require a compromise of our own national autonomy.

Of course, there is nothing wrong on asking such assistance or loans with other countries
on building a deeper connection. It is, in fact, highly necessary for a state to create bilateral and
even multilateral relations so that it continually exists and sustain its needs. But too much can
reasonably lead to a vice of excess. In accordance with Aristotle’s virtue mean in his
Nichomachean Ethics, friendly civility has a tendency to lead into a vice of excess known as
obsequiousness or submissiveness once neglected. There should be a habit of following the middle
ground or mean in order for this to become virtuous.

Knowing how unpredictable Duterte’s actions can be, there might be a logic and tactic
behind his efforts on building this so-called friendly connection. The warmer ties President Duterte
is undertaking with China is not an end but rather and surely a means towards other ends. The
easement of tensions between China is part of the latter as both countries faced a heightened issue
from the previous territorial disputes. Careful by being not a Duterte’s apologist, but his actions
may lead to a utilitarian effect in the long run. The challenge and the root of dissents may be due
to different standards and definition of happiness. His means and motive towards the attainment
of happiness is clearly untraditional and different with the former presidents as well as other
Filipinos.

According to Huffington Post (2017), the Philippines and China under former President
Aquino arguably have the most toxic bilateral relationship. Now that Duterte has claimed the
presidency, most of the time, he allows things to naturally take over and employ a tolerant stance
whenever the topic and relations with China emerges. He tries not to raise alarming remarks nor
adamant assertiveness from its creeping power to our rights or in formal terms, an adoption of a
lenient attitude. The concept and goal of Confucius’ Wu Wei “to work together without struggle”
may be a form of tactic by our president to ensure our national security and economic
improvement. Resistance may be not much of a help from his point of view most especially by the
given situation because it can be taken as an indication of war or closure of flourishing deals; thus,
he just resonates with the inevitable together with the friendly ties to occur and grow. Forcese
(2018) defined Wu Wei as “the cultivation of a mental state in which our actions are quite
effortlessly in alignment with the flow of life.” With the seemingly rooted Chinese influence from
our history and economy, an effort to remove them from such areas could mean a loss of resources,
time and advantages—so he aligns with the flow of politics and art of power. The nature of the
conflict demands a deliberate and practical response. An assertion of immediate strict policies must
be first and properly scrutinized.

Regardless of the outcome, counter-control or revolution will automatically arise once the
government and other entities imposed authoritarian and unjust scheme. Only the future will tell
how extensive and beneficial will this us all lead, as a nation built on a long sought and struggle
towards democracy.
References:

China lifts tourist arrivals by 9.7% in January-July 2018. (2018, August 24). Retrieved from
https://businessmirror.com.ph/china-lifts-tourist-arrivals-by-9-7-in-january-july-2018/

Itemized list of PH projects covered by China's $15-B investment pledges to Duterte. (2017,
February 03). Retrieved from https://www.ifsec.events/philippines/visit/news-and-updates/itemized-list-
ph-projects-covered-chinas-15-b-investment-pledges-duterte

Romero, A. (2018, April 10). Duterte affirms partnership with China amid Beijing's trade tiff
with Washington. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/04/10/1804614/duterte-
affirms-partnership-china-amid-beijings-trade-tiff-washington

Romero, A. (2018, November 28). 'Deport 52,000 illegal foreign workers, with care'. Retrieved
from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/11/29/1872714/deport-52000-illegal-foreign-workers-care

https://www.asiasentinel.com/econ-business/china-debt-trap/

huffingtonpost

https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=EaBBDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA65&lpg=PA65&dq=is+the+c
ultivation+of+a+mental+state+in+which+our+actions+are+quite+effortlessly+in+alignment+with+the+fl
ow+of+life.&source=bl&ots=Pb8z38haIO&sig=Mt4Uu013DCQcI94ME4mgNWpBeqA&hl=en&sa=X&
ved=2ahUKEwiNm46AiZXfAhWCyrwKHUDiA8QQ6AEwCXoECAAQAQ#v=onepage&q=is%20the%
20cultivation%20of%20a%20mental%20state%20in%20which%20our%20actions%20are%20quite%20e
ffortlessly%20in%20alignment%20with%20the%20flow%20of%20life.&f=false