“The discussants were drawn to the Forum’s topic: ‘In this Era of Global Tariff and Other Uncertainties: Peace or War?’”
A GROUP of national leaders, industrialists, and geo-political scholars has advocated “exploring areas of cooperation in a climate of peace, not war,” following views by other sectors to “prepare for war.”
Former Senator Anna Dominique “Nikki” Coseteng led a pool of discussants in a popular media forum, underscoring the need to pursue peace in dealing with China and other neighboring countries and charting prosperity in the Philippines.
Sharing her peacemaking advocacy was industrialist Cecilio Pedro, immediate past president of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce (FFCCC), who joined the Pandesal Forum hosted and organized by journalist Wilson Lee Flores.
Two geopolitical scholars, Dr. Rommel Banlaoi of the University of the Philippines and New Era University and Prof. Richard Heydarian of Dela Salle University, further explored the possibilities of peace, productivity, and prosperity.
The discussants were drawn to the Forum’s topic: “In this Era of Global Tariff and Other Uncertainties: Peace or War?”
“Nobody wins in war; let’s not fall for it,” said Coseteng, who volunteered the analogy of “choosing between the wings of a chicken and the wings of an airplane,” referring to recent developments where the country has chosen to buy fighter jets in the middle of a lack of food security.
“I would rather focus on pursuing peace in doing business,” declared FFFCC’s Pedro, who just concluded a fruitful stint as president of the Filipino-Chinese commerce chamber, where he espoused a people-to-people approach to improving Filipino-Chinese friendship.
Scholar Banlaoi addressed the continuing dispute on the West Philippine Sea as an unavoidable backdrop to the discussion on peace with China.
“Conflicts are not irreconcilable since there are many ways to settle,” he added, referring to the current maritime dispute. “War is not an option.”
Prof. Heydarian, also a broadsheet columnist, addressed the need for the country to align itself with trade partners.
First, noting that our diplomatic policy is directed, if not dictated, by the United States, he said, “Multi-alignment is the way forward, opening ourselves to more economic diplomacy initiatives with neighbors like China, adding, “Let’s leverage our partnership with our neighboring superpower.”
Coseteng suggested the country should pursue a policy of learning a little more about China so that we could learn more about becoming an industrial power in a short period. “Let’s be familiar with the cultural nuances and not be satisfied with stereotypes,” she said.
Concerning issues between the Philippines and China, Coseteng said: “If we make progress in knowing more about China and other countries, progress has a way of solving the problems of the world.”
Scholars Banlaoi and Heydarian echoed her views, with Heydarian advocating that we should learn from China’s highly successful “industrial policy,” as some members of the ASEAN have begun doing so, like Vietnam.
At the forum’s conclusion, Coseteng stressed we should “look at China as a friend, not as an enemy―as we move toward more prosperity for our people.”
The discussants agreed problems would still remain since, as Heydarian put it, there is “no magic bullet” to eliminate them.
Banlaoi wrapped up his comment by saying, “We should solve our problems from a friendly, not from a hostile, environment.”
(The author holds a doctorate in philosophy, a UP professor and former Senior Foreign Affairs Adviser at DFA.)
