🌍🔥 Tension for Pacific Area dey Hot Pass Fire – Marcos yarn for Waikiki
⬇️ Pidgin ⬇️ ⬇️ Black American Slang ⬇️ English
🌏🌊 As e dey hot, Philippine Presido Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. don finish im Hawaii waka on Sunday wit one big talk for Waikiki where e yarn about di wahala wey dey cook for Pacific side.
E talk say, “We dey see sign of another nuclear and space arms race wey dey float around us” for di audience wey gather for Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. E dey worry how small kontris like Philippines dey struggle to boost dem security power wit dia allies and partners, and how dem dey manage wit big regional playas.
Marcos land for Honolulu on Saturday, na stop im make for road back Manila after im attend di 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit wey happen for San Francisco. E spend Sunday morning dey yarn with Adm. John Aquilino, di top U.S. military ogbonge commander for Pacific, about di fear for Chinese military wey dey try take over water and reefs wey Philippines don claim since many years back.
“Talk-talk no be enough,” na so Marcos talk. “We need to upgrade our defense and civilian law enforcement power, not only to defend we self, but also to make we fit dey reliable partner for promoting and protecting regional security.”
China dey lock head with different kontris about maritime territory and way to pass for South China Sea, wey be critical waterway wey carry pass one-third of all international trade. Beijing dey claim di full sea as dia own.
Di fight between China and Philippines over Spratly Islands don dey hot, as most of di islands dey inside wetin Philippines dey call di West Philippine Sea. For 2016, international court sef support Philippines, say China no get legal ground for dia claim. But China military don double dia effort, build base for di islands and reefs and dey worry ships from neighbor kontris.
Marcos yarn say, “Di Indo-Pacific region, especially di West Philippine Sea, dey for middle of big global geopolitical change and don turn to ground for fight about wetin be di correct way.” E add say, “Tension for West Philippine Sea dey increase, with unlawful threats and wahala against Philippine sovereign rights and jurisdiction over our exclusive economic zones.”
E call out China use of “maritime militias,” wey be like civilian vessels but na for real dem dey work with Chinese military to do spying and claim territory. E talk say dem and Chinese military dey use strong hand tactics and dangerous moves for West Philippine Sea, wey dey put lives of Philippines people for risk.
E talk say illegal fishing don turn to something wey dey happen every day, and recent check for di area show say get strong link between maritime militia vessels and damage to di reef for those areas. E worry say di effect on biodiversity and environment – wey e fear say fit don damage finish – dey put livelihoods and future generations of Filipinos for danger.
Before e win election for 2022, Marcos promise to follow many of di policy of im before-before ogbonge, Rodrigo Duterte, like to dey close to China and think again about relationship with United States.
Marcos wey don meet late Chinese leader Mao Zedong on trip to China with im papa, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., dey boast im friendship with Chinese officials for campaign interviews. E talk say e fit negotiate better with Chinese government. E even suggest to put aside di 2016 ruling and start fresh talk with Beijing.
But since Marcos enter office, Chinese forces don continue to dey disturb Philippine vessels, wey don make anti-Chinese feeling dey grow for Philippines. Dis don push Marcos and im government to take stronger position with Beijing as dem dey look for more cooperation with United States.
Still, Marcos emphasize say e want see relationship with United States – wey once rule Philippines as colony – to change. “We no dey follow di old way of thinking again, where we dey for one world wey dey divided,” e talk. E refer to di days of Cold War where kontris choose side between U.S. and Soviet Union. “Dis no dey relevant again for di way world dey now, geopolitically.”
E talk say, “Our alliance don strong pass before, because e don dey founded on our shared values, mutual respect,
and trust for each other as equal sovereign partners.” But e also talk say Philippines dey work to widen im alliances and trade networks by pursuing closer ties with kontris like Japan, Australia, South Korea, and United Kingdom and also with European Union.
“The way forward na to strengthen our partnerships with all our neighbors and with all friendly nations wey share our ideals, aspirations, and values,” e talk. “Di more allies we get to speak up whenever such encroachments happen, such incidents or events happen, then I think di voice go dey stronger.”
For APEC, Marcos meet with Chinese leader Xi Xinping to talk about how to reduce tension between dia kontris. U.S. President Joe Biden also meet with Xi and secure agreement from Chinese leader to start talk again between di two kontris’ militaries. Di Chinese military don cut off most communication with U.S. military after di controversial visit of then-Speaker of House Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan for summer 2022.
Even as Marcos talk say make we continue talk and make diplomacy be priority, e no too happy with how things dey go. “I no fit talk say di situation dey improve,” na so e talk. “E don worse pass before. Di nearest reefs wey di [Chinese military] don start to show interest in, in terms of slowly using dem atolls and shoals to build bases…dey come closer and closer to di Philippine coastline. And di nearest one now na around 60 nautical miles from di nearest Philippine coast.”
Marcos trip to Honolulu na im first time to come back Oahu since im papa, di late dictator of Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., was overthrown for 1986 People Power revolution. Marcos Sr. die for 1989 for Honolulu, and di family no fit return till 1992. Since dem return, dem don try to clean dia name and regain both influence and power.
Plenty for Hawaii Filipino community dey support di Marcos family, plenty of dem come from di family home province of Ilocos Norte, where dem still popular. Plenty overseas Filipinos for Hawaii vote for Marcos for di 2022 election wey cause plenty talk.
But di family still get plenty people wey no like dem. Dem dey face several lawsuit for Hawaii by people wey suffer human right abuse during Marco Sr. 20 years rule for Philippines. Protesters picket outside Hawai‘i Convention Center on Saturday – where Marcos attend dinner – with sign wey read, “No aloha for Marcos.”
Marcos finish im Waikiki meeting by announcing say Philippines go donate $100,000 to Hawaii relief effort for Lahaina. Di historic town burn for August fire, kill at least 100 people for di deadliest U.S. wildfire for century. Plenty of di dead na Filipinos, wey be big part of di town population. Many still dey homeless.
NOW IN BLACK AMERICAN SLANG
🌍🔥 Pacific Tensions Heating Up,” Marcos Spills in Waikiki
🌏🌊 So, Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. just wrapped up his Hawaii trip on Sunday, dropping some serious words in Waikiki about the Pacific getting tense
He was like, “Looks like we’re staring down a new nuclear and space arms race,” at this gathering at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. Homie’s stressing over small countries like the Philippines trying to step up their security game in the face of major regional players.
Marcos landed in Honolulu on Saturday, a quick pitstop on his way back to Manila after hitting up the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in San Francisco. He spent Sunday morning chopping it up with Adm. John Aquilino, the U.S. military’s head honcho in the Pacific, talking about China stepping into waters and reefs that the Philippines has been claiming for ages.
Marcos was real when he said, “Just talking ain’t cutting it.” He’s talking about needing to boost their defense and law enforcement to not just defend themselves but also be solid partners in keeping the region safe.
China’s caught up in these sea territory beefs with neighboring countries around the South China Sea, this crucial spot where over a third of all international trade flows through. Beijing’s out here claiming the whole sea.
Now, the Philippines and China have been locking horns over the Spratly Islands, right in the spot the Philippines calls the West Philippine Sea. Back in 2016, an international court sided with the Philippines, saying China’s claims don’t hold water. But China’s military isn’t backing down, building bases on disputed islands and reefs, and they’re not too friendly with ships from the neighboring countries.
Marcos was putting it straight, saying, “The Indo-Pacific region, especially the West Philippine Sea, is in the thick of a major global geopolitical shift and is now a battleground.” He added, “Tensions in the West Philippine Sea are on the rise, with constant illegal threats and challenges to Philippine rights and control over our exclusive economic zones.”
He called out China for using these “maritime militias,” which are like civilian boats but are actually in cahoots with the Chinese military for spying and claiming territory. He’s saying these guys, along with the Chinese military, are using some underhanded tactics and risky maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea, and it’s putting Filipino lives on the line.
He pointed out that illegal fishing is rampant, and recent studies show a “direct correlation between maritime militia vessel presence and reef damage in those areas. The impact on biodiversity and the environment—feared to be possibly already irreversible—threatens livelihoods and future generations of Filipinos.”
Before he won the election in 2022, Marcos was all about continuing many of the policies of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, like getting cozy with China and rethinking the Philippines’ relationship with the United States.
Marcos, who met the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong on a trip to China with his dad, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., was always talking up his connections with Chinese officials during his campaign. He thought he could negotiate better with the Chinese government. He even suggested tossing out the 2016 ruling and starting fresh talks with Beijing.
But ever since Marcos took office, the Chinese forces have been stepping up their game against Philippine vessels, leading to this growing anti-Chinese vibe in the Philippines. This has pushed Marcos and his crew to take a tougher stance with Beijing, while they’re trying to get tighter with the United States.
Still, Marcos is keen on changing up the Philippines’ relationship with the United States, which used to run the show in the Philippines. He’s like, “We’re over that old-school thinking of a world split in two,” talking about the Cold War days when countries had to pick sides between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. “That way of thinking just doesn’t fly anymore with how things are playing out globally these days.”
He’s saying, “Our partnership is stronger than ever, built on shared beliefs, respect, and trust as equals.” He’s also talking about how the Philippines is widening its circle, getting closer with countries like Japan, Australia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.
Marcos is all about strengthening ties, saying, “The move is to beef up our connections with all our neighbors and friendly nations that share our goals, dreams, and principles.” He believes that “The more allies we get to speak out against these kinds of moves and incidents, the louder and stronger our collective voice will be.”
At the APEC meet-up, Marcos and Chinese leader Xi Jinping were trying to cool down the
heat between their countries. U.S. President Joe Biden also had a sit-down with Xi, and they agreed to kickstart military talks again. This was after the Chinese military pretty much ghosted the U.S. military following that controversial visit by then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan last summer.
While Marcos is all for keeping the convo going and putting diplomacy first, he’s not exactly optimistic about the situation. He’s like, “Sadly, I can’t say things are looking up.” He’s worried because “The closest reefs that the [Chinese military] is eyeing, thinking of using these atolls and shoals for building bases…they’re getting closer to the Philippine coast, with the nearest one now about 60 nautical miles from our shores.”
Marcos’ trip to Honolulu is a big deal since it’s his first time back in Oahu since his father, the late dictator of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., got kicked out in the 1986 People Power revolution. Marcos Sr. passed in 1989 in Honolulu, and the fam couldn’t come back till ’92. Since then, they’ve been trying to clean up their image and get their influence back.
The Marcos fam’s got a lot of love from the Filipino community in Hawaii, especially those from their home province of Ilocos Norte. A lot of Filipinos in Hawaii showed up for Marcos in the 2022 election, even though it stirred up some drama.
But not everyone’s on board with the Marcoses. They’ve been hit with lawsuits in Hawaii by folks who suffered under Marco Sr.’s 20-year rule in the Philippines. Some protesters were outside the Hawai‘i Convention Center on Saturday, where Marcos was at a dinner, holding signs like, “No aloha for Marcos.”
Marcos wrapped up in Waikiki by announcing the Philippines is dropping $100,000 for Hawaii’s relief work in Lahaina. That historic town got hit hard by fires in August, with at least 100 people gone in the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century. A bunch of those lost were Filipinos, who were a big part of the town. Plenty are still without a home.
NOW IN ENGLISH
🌍🔥 Pacific Tensions More Dire,” Marcos Declares in Waikiki Speech
🌏🌊 In a significant update, Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. concluded his Hawaii visit on Sunday with a pivotal speech in Waikiki, addressing the escalating tensions in the Pacific.
He alerted the audience at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, stating, “Signs of another nuclear and space arms race are looming over us.” He expressed concerns about smaller countries like the Philippines, which are struggling to enhance their security capabilities amid larger regional players.
Marcos arrived in Honolulu on Saturday, a layover en route to Manila after attending the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in San Francisco. He spent Sunday morning discussing Chinese military encroachment in disputed waters and reefs with Adm. John Aquilino, the U.S. military’s top commander in the Pacific.
“Merely rhetoric is not sufficient,” Marcos noted. “We must upgrade our defense and civilian law enforcement capacities, not only for our defense but to also be a dependable partner in maintaining and ensuring regional security.”
China is embroiled in maritime territorial disputes with neighboring countries in the South China Sea, a vital waterway for over one-third of global trade. Beijing has laid claim to the entire sea.
The conflict between China and the Philippines over the disputed Spratly Islands, located in what the Philippines refers to as the West Philippine Sea, has been intensifying. Despite a 2016 international court ruling in favor of the Philippines, declaring China’s territorial claims as lacking legal basis, the Chinese military has escalated its presence, establishing bases and frequently harassing neighboring vessels.
Marcos highlighted, “The Indo-Pacific region, particularly the West Philippine Sea, is at the heart of a major global geopolitical shift and has become a battleground for normative disputes.” He added that “tensions in the West Philippine Sea are rising, with ongoing illegal threats and challenges to Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction over our exclusive economic zones.”
He criticized China’s deployment of “maritime militias,” seemingly civilian vessels that actually collaborate with the Chinese military for surveillance and territorial claims. He accused them and the Chinese military forces of employing coercive tactics and dangerous maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea, endangering the lives of Philippine citizens.
He pointed out that illegal fishing has become “widespread,” with studies indicating a “direct correlation between maritime militia vessel presence and reef damage in those areas. The impact on biodiversity and the environment—feared to be potentially irreversible—threatens livelihoods and future generations of Filipinos.”
Before his 2022 election victory, Marcos campaigned on continuing many policies of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, including fostering closer ties with China and reevaluating relations with the United States.
Marcos, who had met with the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong during a visit to China with his father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., boasted of his connections with Chinese officials during his campaign and claimed he could negotiate more effectively with the Chinese government. He even proposed disregarding the 2016 ruling to initiate new negotiations with Beijing.
However, since taking office, ongoing aggressive actions by Chinese forces against Philippine vessels have fueled anti-Chinese sentiment in the Philippines, prompting Marcos and his administration to adopt a tougher stance against Beijing, seeking increased cooperation with the United States.
Nevertheless, Marcos emphasized his desire to transform the Philippines’ relationship with the United States, which once colonized the nation. “We no longer adhere to the outdated bipolar world view,” he stated, referring to the Cold War era’s geopolitical divisions. “This perspective is no longer relevant to the current geopolitical landscape.”
“Our alliance is stronger than ever, founded on shared values, mutual respect, and trust as equal sovereign partners,” he asserted. He also mentioned the Philippines’ efforts to expand alliances and trade networks with nations such as Japan, Australia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.
“The path forward is to bolster our partnerships with all our neighbors and friendly nations that share our ideals, aspirations, and values,” he declared. “The more allies we gather to voice out against such encroachments and incidents, the more powerful that voice will become.”
During the APEC summit, Marcos met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to discuss de-escalating tensions. U.S. President Joe Biden also met with Xi, securing an agreement to resume military communications, which had been largely severed following then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s controversial visit to Taiwan in the summer of 2022.
Despite advocating for continued dialogue and prioritizing diplomacy, Marcos expressed a grim view of the current situation. “Regrettably, I cannot report an improvement,” he said. “The situation has worsened. The nearest reefs where the [Chinese military] has begun to show interest in using these atolls and shoals for building bases…are inching ever closer to the Philippine coast, with the
nearest now about 60 nautical miles from the Philippine shoreline.”
Marcos’ trip to Honolulu marked his first return to Oahu since his father, the late dictator of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., was ousted in the 1986 People Power revolution. Marcos Sr. passed away in 1989 in Honolulu, and the family was barred from returning until 1992. Since their return, they have sought to rehabilitate their image and regain influence and power.
The Marcos family has substantial support within Hawaii’s Filipino community, many of whom hail from the family’s home province of Ilocos Norte. Many overseas Filipinos in Hawaii cast their votes for Marcos in the contentious 2022 election.
Yet, the family faces staunch opposition as well. They have been the subject of multiple lawsuits in Hawaii by victims of human rights abuses during Marco Sr.’s 20-year regime in the Philippines. Protesters picketed outside the Hawai‘i Convention Center on Saturday, where Marcos attended a dinner, displaying signs stating, “No aloha for Marcos.”
Marcos concluded his Waikiki engagement by announcing a $100,000 donation from the Philippines to aid Hawaii’s relief efforts in Lahaina. The historic town was devastated by fires in August, resulting in at least 100 fatalities in the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century. Many of the deceased were Filipinos, who constituted a significant portion of the town’s population. Several remain homeless.
