Resisting EU Markets Not Worth It
Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s promise to crack down on the rampant crime of the country using inhumane means has always led to unwanted attention from the international community, so much so that the European Union (EU) wanted to take action against the regime. At first glance, it sounds like Western powers trying to gain control of their puppet state back, but in reality, the Philippine-EU relationship is a type of diplomacy where money is at stake — and Duterte made the serious mistake of going against an economic superpower just to continue his antics.
In fact, just as Duterte retorted back to the EU, the supranational organization retorted back against the country by threatening to withhold its trading privileges within the EU — something a small country like us could not do anything about. Yet, Duterte risks potential income from European markets away, instead defending his inhumane anti-criminal methods, playing his cards as if he was the superpower. His spokesperson even dared the EU to go ahead and withdraw their aid from the country.
What is infuriating for me as a citizen is the fact that the administration itself refuses to back down from an economic superpower. I applaud their courage against possible neo-colonialism, but in this case, the financial risks of this gamble are real. The EU consists of 27 member states, majority of which have well-developed markets — as such, economic partnership with them would be extremely beneficial for our country should our products reach Europe (that is, if they successfully compete with other products), and will also lead to other economic benefits such as tourism as well. Losing all of that potential would be disheartening.
Yet, should the administration proceed, it will be a decision that will economically affect the country negatively. European investors will be forced to hold back, withholding potential money in the process that could be utilized for our benefit. However, consider why the EU is considering holding back the country from its economic privileges — it is calling out the government for its wrongdoings, something that the country has yet to address, for example the atrocities committed during the War on Drugs.
As previously-mentioned, Duterte’s War on Drugs drew flak from the international community. It not only affected drug users, but also dissidents of the administration such as journalists, activists, and even students. It was thus only right that the EU called attention of Duterte to stop the human rights abuses, but Duterte decided to go against an economic superpower with tons of diplomatic influence by cursing them. This could potentially hurt the country, but diplomatic relations between the two prevailed.
However, the conflicts between the two entities did not end there, and in fact may even be traced all the way to recently. On top of the abuses committed by the government during the drug war, it also decided to shut down ABS-CBN, thus cutting off one of the people’s main sources of media, and convict Maria Ressa, a world-renowned journalist, and her researcher. Once again, the EU called out these injustices, yet the administration did not back down, insisting many times in their narrative that they are sovereign even though illegal Chinese presence in the country has increased since the start of the Duterte administration. The government even went as far as calling their move a “classic case of misinformation” by communist leader Jose Maria Season, who is living in the Netherlands.
But this is where their narrative falls apart. The Philippine-EU relationship is more than just attempts at neo-colonialism. It is about the investment and money potential that slips away every time Duterte denounces the EU and other major powers. Remember that the EU is an economic union; thus, the two entities’ relationship is of economic nature. Disregarding this in favor of an inhumane justice system only hurts the country. Besides, I do not think being stubborn in front of an economic powerhouse is worth it.
While I am aware that the demands of the EU will not be easy to follow, as it goes against everything the government has done so far, like freeing Maria Ressa, bringing back ABS-CBN, and even reassuring dissidents of their safety, Duterte should also consider his other intentions. I am aware that he intends to improve the economy through initiatives such as the Build, Build, Build program. However, if he really intends to stick to that objective, he should at least reconsider his stance. It is not worth standing up against an economic superpower in favor of lessening criminality.
