Chinese officials may spout off about cooperation and friendship, but as long as Beijing refuses to recognize our legitimate claims over the West Philippine Sea, Filipinos will continue to regard them with suspicion—and even resentment. All this despite the best efforts of the Duterte administration to set the territorial dispute aside in favor of Chinese loans and investments. To many Filipinos incensed over the blatant disrespect, that’s just lipstick on a pig. On the fourth anniversary of the historic UN arbitration ruling in favor of the Philippines, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. issued a statement calling on China to respect the arbitral award.

Wong, C. (2020, July 17). Lipstick on a pig. Manila Standard, p. B1.