President Rodrigo Duterte was pathetic when he admitted helplessness when Chinese President Xi Jinping threatened to go to war if the Philippines would enforce its sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea.

Helplessness is never an option as recourse to the United Nations and calling to effect international agreements are readily available.

The paralysis of the President is compounded because he could have succumbed to a barefaced bluff, as China would not go ballistic in the face of certitude of international sanctions and counter-military actions from Philippine allies.

Duterte’s acceptance with alacrity of the Chinese promises of aid and investments appears to be in exchange for not enforcing the arbitral award of the United Nations-supported Permanent Court of Arbitration in favor of the Philippines over the vast and resource-rich areas of the West Philippine Sea.

Sacrificing Philippine sovereignty for contingent aid and investment from an expansionist and militarist China is definitely not a measure of an independent foreign policy.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN