In the 21st International Conference on the Future of Asia sponsored by Nikkei last Wednesday in Tokyo, Aquino was asked about the role of the United States in Asia in the midst of China’s maritime expansion, Aquino said American presence in Asia checks China’s expansionism. “Their presence becomes a factor that has to be contended with, with those who would perhaps push the envelopes as far as what the agreements entitle them to or not,” he said.
But he didn’t stop there.
He shared:“I’m an amateur student of history and I’m reminded of… (I was) just watching several documentaries on World War II and especially how Germany was testing the waters and what the response were by various other European powers. And in several instances, when he was—when he annexed Austria, when they were putting up forces, developing certainties in the Rhineland, or a lot of violations of the Versailles agreement, they tested the waters and they were ready to back down if—for instance and in that aspect—France said ‘stop.’
“But, unfortunately, up to the annexation of the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia, and eventually, the annexation of the entire country of Czechoslovakia, nobody said ‘stop.’ And the commentators on these documentaries were saying: ‘What if somebody said stop to Hitler at that point in time or to Germany at that time? Could we have avoided World War II?’”
What makes Aquino’s statement last Wednesday remarkable was that, he said it as a visitor of Japan, which was allied with Hitler’s Germany in World War 2.
China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a Bejing media briefing: “We are deeply shocked at, strongly dissatisfied with and opposed to the absurd remarks made by the Philippine leader.”
She reiterated the position of China in the South China Sea conflict turning the tables on and accusing the Philippines of having “illegally occupied” islands and reefs in Spratlys which they call Nansha Islands.
Hua further said, “ I once again solemnly urge some people from the Philippines to discard illusions, stop provoking and come back to the right track of resolving disputes through bilateral negotiation and consultation.”
The Philippines has rejected bilateral negotiations with China on South China Sea territorial claims insisting that other claimants –Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, should be included. The conflict over Scarborough Shoal, 124 nautical miles from Zambalez, however, involves only the Philippines and China.
Aquino, known to be an avid reader of war history, is apparently fascinated by the 1938 Sudetenland crisis when Great Britain and France gave in to Hitler’s demand to give Sudeten in Czechoslovakia to Germany.
He first made the comparison of China’s activities in the South China Sea with the Sudentenland crisis in an interview with New York Times February last year.
Sources said Malacañang and Foreign Affairs officials present during the 2014 taped interview were aghast when he made that comparison.
China officially issued a terse reaction:”The Chinese side is shocked at and dissatisfied with the remarks from the Philippine side” and reminded Aquino that “China made huge sacrifice and indelible historical contribution to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War.”
But a commentary in Xinhua, the Chinese government’s official news agency called him” an amateurish politician who was ignorant both of history and reality.”
Former Foreign Secretary Roberto R. Romulo wrote in his Philippine Star column that there are other historical antecedents more appropriate in what is happening this region.
“After all,” he said, “the Sudeten remains a raw issue between Czechs and Germans today that transcends Hitler since it involved not just territory but a huge number of people. Let’s hope that in making this point the President did not manage to offend not only the Czechs and the Germans but the British and French too since they were complicit in what happened there.”
Malacañang must have realized Aquino’s faux pas, they asked someone with close links to the Chinese leadership to explain to them that “the President didn’t mean to offend China” with his Sudeten remarks.
Press Secretary Herminio Coloma had also to explain that the President, “a known history buff, merely mentioned a historical fact that could be related with the Philippine situation. “
He added: “As a storyteller and as a conversationalist, the President often gives details of a particular situation. So it could happen that he was simply citing a fact.”
The Philippines has filed a case versus China with the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal. Hearings will start soon.
Is it too much to ask President Aquino to share with the public his readings on war history after the U.N. court has decided on the Philippine case against China?
“An amateur student of history” but a bona fide Makapili stooge playing sweet music to his militarist Japanese “bosses.”
Haaay naku, Siao. Nakakapagod, di ba?
The speech was eloquent and masterful. You were not the audience, perhaps. Japanese dignitaries were, and they gave him a rousing standing ovation.
A president will never elevate the Philippines to world class standing when her own citizens are so jealous of others, and work to degrade honorable effort.
war with china is inevitable. better to get people prepared for it.
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2015/04/seven_reasons_china_will_star_a_war_by_2017.html#.VUND8Q6TyMU.facebook
#3 Hey Joe, I know there is practically nothing that PNoy will do which you will not applaud, like it’s your sworn duty. But you see, while we want to stand our ground with respect to our territorial integrity, we should also be careful not to provoke considering the realities on the ground. China, like us, after all was a victim of brutal Japanese aggression during World War 2 and the wounds has not seemingly healed, unlike in our case. It is naive to think that PNoy could say something of great import and confine it to his audience of cheering Japanese. The Chinese, seeing it on media, could be incensed that on this issue we are on the side of those who brutalized and ravaged them (and us)during the war.
You are an American in our soil. Know your place, foreigner.
China is the enemy and Japan is a friend. What matters now is the present reality and it tells us that Chinese expansionism is the biggest external threat to our sovereignty.
Hirap sa iba dyan, mas Intsik pa ang damdamin kesa sa mga Intsik sa Binondo.
I am against Chinese expansionism, let me be clear about that. We should indeed seek allies which share our interest. What I am against is inflammatory statements that provoke rather than calm.
@Ricelander #5, “Know your place Foreigner.”
Wow. What do I say. I defend the Philippine president and it offends people. Filipinos. You know, I read the speech and I was genuinely touched. I thought it was excellent. That is my opinion. I know that I am entitled to speak it, as a foreigner.
If you choose to rag on your president and nation, you are also entitled to do that.
@Ricelander #5, I agree with both points, China and provocation. If I had the power to retract my statement #3, I would because I agree it was rather rudely stated.
The President was in Japan to deepen ties with the most powerful nation in Asia, outside of China. His speech was presented in the Japanese tradition, honoring Japan, and Japanese character. Then he turned to the substance of China and he advocated for the rule of law and peace, and showed Japan and the Philippines aligned and thinking the same. This, too, was welcomed in Japan because they mostly get beat up by China for their resistance. So the President got a rousing reception after the speech. He touched hearts and minds and sided with Japan.
Now I am for the Philippines, heart and soul. That is point number one. For the Philippines to be strong, she needs a strong leader, and we have a choice to bolster the President, to help make him strong, or drag him down. And weaken the Philippines. That is point number two.
When the President makes a mistake, criticize the decision. Fair enough. He should have been at the coffins. He misjudged that. When he represents the Philippines well, as he obviously did in this speech . . . it is a choice. Be forthright and say so. Or tear him down because we can’t stand to see him doing well.
You get the kind of nation you build.
And taking China’s reaction to the speech and giving it credence while ripping the President of the Philippines. Whoa Nellie. Good Lord, “I be done seen every thing when I seen an elephant fly.” (The crows in Disney’s cartoon classic, “Dumbo, the Flying Elephant”.
#2
Naku, Ellen. Sobrang nakakalurkey.
Only a Makapili who purports to be “an amateur student of history” would all a nation that has not paid a single cent of reparation to the victims of its warS of aggression a friend.
Anong kabutihan ba ang nagawa ng pagkumpara ni Pangulong Aquino ng China kay Hitler?
1. Natuwa ba ang Japan, na kasma ni Hitler noong WW2?
2. Siyempre nagalit ang China.Akala natin nakapuntos tayo.
Yun ba ay nakakatulong sa sinasabi nating pagbwas ng tensyon sa rehiyon?
#6 JCJ, you are right. Japan is a friend of the Philippines.
Why did Aquino use that example of Hitler? Hitler’s Germany and Hirohito’s Japan were allies.
If what matters is today (Japan and Philippines are allies), why did Aquino have to rake up WW2 stories>
That’s the issue.
This is not originally mine, but from columnist Jojo Robles.
The Penoy-Balut talks about giving the Sudetenlands to appease Hitler.
Looks who’s talking. Who is giving territory in the BBL to appease the Iqbalites; or is it Malaysia?
So the Penoy is our Neville Chamberlain.
Well said, Ricelander #7.
So many tragedies have been imposed on mankind because of rhetorics.
And as if we have the capability to wage war if we provoked China enough!
Aquino and his defense secretary Gazmin think America will send American soldiers to fight the Chinese over rocks in South China Sea.
Ay naku.Nanaginip.
The Chinese may start their expansionism with the little rocks by the Sea, and then some little islands along the way, and just like Japan and Germany, the World…but when it comes to that point, there won’t be much of the world left for their ambitions…Americans and its allies will send not the soldiers but the missiles…
#17 thanks Ms. Ellen. My concern with this courtier Joe America is he is always cheering the President and the President could get easily flattered. He might just start calling China’s president Hitler too and who knows what will come next.
Here we go again:
Aquino: No intent to hurt Chinese with ‘Nazi’ comparison
“With regard to hurting the Chinese feelings, we have no intentions of hurting anybody’s feelings,” Aquino said in a press conference with the Japan National Press Club on the last day of his state visit there.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/06/05/1462536/aquino-no-intent-hurt-chinese-nazi-comparison
tatlong bagay na kapuripuri meron si penoy:
1. mahusay siyang tagapagtanggol ng kanyang mga kaalyadong naiipit sa mga kontrobersiya at alam niyang bilang pangulo ay walang kokontra sa kanya kapag sinasanggahan ang mga kakosang makapal pa balat ng buwaya ang mga mukha.
2. mahusay siyang kumabisa ng mga lektyur at hindi nakakabagot ang kanyang mga paglalahad ng mga detalye sa anumang kanyang gustong imensahe. dapat sa kanya – patayuin na la’ang sa isang sulok at hayaang magsalita nang magsalita nang walang puknat, walang aawat. hindi la’ang siya nakakatuwa, ‘ansarap niyang pukulin ng bugok na itlog.
at, ang pinaka sa lahat:
3. wala na ‘atang mas lalakas pa sa kanya sa paghitit ng sigarilyo kaya dapat maging poster boy siya ng mga cigarette companies na ang tugmang health warning na ilalagay sa bawat pakete ng sigarilyo kung saan meron siyang larawan ay – HERE IS A PRESIDENT WHO IS NOW HAVING A CLEAR INSIDE: LUNGS ALL MELTED DOWN BY NICOTINE!
kaya hindi kapanipaniwala ‘yung sinasabing SMOKERS never grow old, they just die young. eh, bakit ‘yang si noynoy, buhay pa?
3.
Para sa mga negatibong komento, mas maganda sigurong bisitahin ito nang sa ganuon ay masilip ang pangkaraniwang Pinoy.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OJXtEzb_yWk
the POTUS na mismo ang nagsasabi na hindi nila kakalabanin ang china sa isyung may kinalaman sa angkinan ng mga isla bahagi ng china sea. ang gusto lamang nila ay manatiling bukas trade route at hindi ‘yung sinosolo ng china sa pamamagitan ng pambu-bully sa mga maliliit at mahihina niyang kalapit bansa tulad ng pilipinas.
dapat malaman nina noynoy at gazmin na HINDI prayoridad ng US ang interes ng pilipinas sa mga isla sa WPS kundi ang pakinabang ng amerika sa malayang paglalayag sa naturang bahagi ng karagatan sapagkat halos lahat ng mga pangkalakal na sasakyang dagat galing asya ay sa china sea ang ruta patungong western ports.
huwag na nilang (noynoy at gazmin) sindihan ang mitsa ng giyera habang umaasa sa tulong ng iba!
Sabi ko nga mas Intsik pa ang damdamin ng ilan dito kesa sa mga Intsik sa Binondo. Porke swak na swak ang analogy na ginamit ni PNOY sa kanyang speech sa Japan patungkol sa Tsina, kaya nanggagalaiti na naman ang mga kritiko.
Hoo nga. sala sa init, sala sa lamig.
Si Noynoy ba yung nag-speech? Akala ko si Kris.
Ay naku, talaga, Tongue.
By Jean-Pierre Lehmann
Forbes Magazine
“To compare the South China Sea to the Sudetenland displays amazing ignorance, worrying on the part of the head of State of one of the countries concerned. The situation requires cool-heads, not saber-rattling hot-heads. Had he read Bill Hayton’s work Aquino would not have made such asinine remarks. The comparison of Nazi Germany and China is absurd and bears no scrutiny. Xi Jinping is no Hitler and the South China Sea is not the Sudetenland.”
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jplehmann/2015/06/07/president-aquino-should-shut-up-on-south-china-sea-china-is-not-nazi-germany-the-philippines-has-other-priorities/