On Burma and China

Posted on by

Something interesting is stirring in Burma.

For the past several days, Buddhist monks are going out of their monasteries to protest, something that lay people are afraid to do. At first, only monks were on the streets, and the monkeys in uniform who heads the military junta paid no attention to them. Ordinary people then began going out, at first just watching, and with courage joined the monks in protest. The monkeys are troubled, and began belching threats. The protests continued, and the monkeys, sensing that their grip on the bananas might slip, began cracking the whip. The monkeys ordered all protests dispersed, several opposition members and monks arrested, and a curfew announced.

I hope the Burmese people will hold on, and I hope they will have their own People Power moment.

—

Miriam Santiago said something on yesterday’s Senate hearing on NBN-ZTE deal that, in olden times, might have caused war. He said in effect that China started civilization and corruption. Filipinos of Chinese origin are either offended or too busy watching Ateneo v. La Salle basketball game.

As a Filipino of Chinese descent, I am surprised by my own reaction to Santiago’s comment: NONE. As in nothing. Maybe because despite being half-Chinese, I did not grow up in a home infused with Chinese culture. The only Chinese traditions that I am familiar with is the All Saints Day celebration. We do not celebrate other Chinese festivals. I can’t read, write, nor speak Chinese.

Anyway, her comment must have put a dent at China-Philippine relations. After all, she is the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Her committee would be busy if a new treaty between the two countries was negotiated. Under our Constitution, any treaty entered by the country must be approved by the Senate of the Republic. How would she handle such?

I think her comment is unfair and uncalled for. This kind of talk is best reserved on a private audience. But no. Her comments were broadcast. Her comments form part of the transcript of the hearings. The effects of her comment remains to be seen. China must be peeved.

I am so glad our time is not the olden times. Otherwise, we would be preparing for war now.

8 thoughts on “On Burma and China”

  1. As a Filipino of Chinese descent, I am surprised by my own reaction to Santiago’s comment: NONE. As in nothing. Maybe because despite being half-Chinese, I did not grow up in a home infused with Chinese culture.

    Or perhaps, the reason for your non-reaction is, like most of us, you think Senator Santiago is nuts.

  2. The Burma protests are not likely to end well. Even now, the death toll is already rising. Their ruling junta has no patience for peaceful dissent, as demonstrated by the way they crushed the 1988 pro-democracy protests.

    International sanctions won’t work either as long as the regime has the backing of China.

  3. For someone who condemned Malu’s bigorty, I am not about to let anyone get away with racist remarks, basket case or not.

    But I hope that someday, I will find this basket case’s head inside a basket.

  5. I do believe, the Chinese or non-Chinese among us should feel outraged that a Senator of the realm should be mouthing inanities in our name – yes, in our name because she is a Senator of the Republic of the Philippines.

    How dare she? She who still has to learn about social behaviour should mouth something so stupid! As a Senator, what she’s done is absolutely politically incorrect.

  6. Jeg, you’re naughty ha? He he.

    Josh, that’s why I am hoping, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Why can’t the Chinese bomb their selves no? Wait, you’re Chinese!

    Schumey, of course her comments should be condemned. She said sorry, like her patroness.

    Arthur, she’s a sober woman. The couch beckons.

    Mam Anna, true.

    I wonder what her supporters are thinking now….

  7. I think it’s unfair for people to say she’s “brain damaged.” It’s her British-Ilongo accent that makes her seem always on the verge of, or actually, flipping her wig. I like reading and her speeches and treatises, except the sound of her voice is simply ineradicable. Whenever I run into some choice piece of vocabulary, I can just hear her masticating it to bloody shreds. But she knows her law!

Comments are closed.