Last of two parts
RAY Powell tried to downplay the atrocities of Japanese military imperialists during the Second World War in order to spin his narrative of “China exploiting Filipino children for its anti-Japan propaganda campaign.” In so doing, he abandoned even basic moral conscience. During World War II, both China and the Philippines suffered grievously under Japanese militarism. In the Bataan Death March alone, about 2,000 American prisoners of war were killed by Japanese forces, alongside the 35 million Chinese military and civilian casualties, and victims of atrocities such as the Manila Massacre — facts that are beyond dispute. Powell’s attempt to whitewash the Japanese aggression during WW2 not only desecrates history but also betrays the sacrifice of our fallen heroes, including thousands of American soldiers.
7. Interfering in Philippine foreign affairs
Powell also claimed that China seeks to make the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) the “sole legitimate voice” in foreign policy. China doesn’t need to do that. Republic Act 7157, otherwise known as the Philippine Foreign Service Act of 1991, gives mandate to the DFA to implement the country’s foreign policy, not other government departments or agencies. When Ray Powell points fingers at how the Philippines should approach its relationship with China, he clearly is trying to divide the Philippine government against itself.
Why is Powell doing this?
The answer is simple: As the South China Sea stabilized and China-Philippines relations showed signs of improvement recently, Powell and other anti-China forces became uneasy and spared no effort to disrupt this momentum.
Over the past four months, diplomatic dialogue, people-to-people exchanges and law enforcement cooperation between China and the Philippines have made encouraging progress. Since January, officials from both foreign ministries have met monthly. On March 28, the 24th China-Philippines Foreign Ministry Consultation and the 11th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea were held in Quanzhou. Since the implementation of a visa-free policy last January, Chinese tourists to the Philippines reached 120,000, up nearly 60 percent year on year. Direct flights have recovered to about 50 percent of pre-pandemic levels. Law enforcement cooperation has led to the repatriation of suspects involved in kidnapping, telecom fraud and human trafficking. These tangible results are achieved through continuous dialogue and cooperation.
However, Powell, and the like, do not wish to see improved relations or mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the Philippines. They show little concern for the well-being of the Filipino people, or the benefits they could gain from better bilateral ties with China. For example, the Philippines is currently in a state of national energy emergency. President Marcos Jr. has expressed a willingness to reset relations with China and a positive attitude toward joint oil and gas development. Yet anti-China groups have immediately opposed such cooperation. Actually, the negotiations of joint development of oil and gas between China and the Philippines began a long time ago. Had it not been disrupted, the Filipino people might already be benefiting from the joint development.
In the face of smears and attacks from figures like Ray Powell, the Chinese Embassy remains firm: It is both a bridge for friendship and cooperation, and a stronghold for defending national interests and dignity. We never initiate an attack; we only defend ourselves in response. We do not offend unless we are offended; if we are offended, we will surely strike back. By stoking hostility, sabotaging China-Philippines ties and undermining the shared interests of the two peoples, Ray Powell is merely playing the role of a petty troublemaker defying the course of history. It is doomed to fail. The Chinese Embassy will continue to present facts and clarify the truth, ensuring the public is not misled by distorted narratives.
Guo Wei
Deputy Spokesman
Chinese Embassy in Manila