Last June, I gave the keynote speech at the celebrations marking the 36th anniversary of the establishment of Philippines-China diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of Philippines-China “Friendship Day” in the presence of 5,000 of my countrymen and a smattering of Chinese officials. Yet on that same day, the headlines in Chinese papers were blasting the Philippines for its historic claim to ownership of the Spratly Islands.
去年七月，我面对5000名菲利宾民众和几位中国官员发表了庆祝菲中建交36周年暨“菲中友谊日”10周年的讲话。但就在同一天，中国国内报章的头条却在谴责菲利宾对斯普拉特利群岛的历史主权要求。