🌏 Did you know the South China Sea was once a 'bridge' connecting the Philippines and China? According to Philippine scholar Rommel Banlaoi, the two neighbors shared over 1,000 years of peaceful coexistence before colonization by what he calls the 'anti-China West.'
💬 'The South China Sea wasn’t just water—it was the source of our connection,' Banlaoi explains. From cultural exchanges to trade routes, the sea fostered mutual prosperity. Today, as tensions rise, he urges a return to diplomacy: 'As close neighbors, peace is our greatest legacy.'
✨ This historic perspective sheds light on modern regional dynamics, reminding us that collaboration once thrived in these waters. Could reviving this mindset reshape Asia's future? 🌊 Let’s keep the dialogue flowing!
Reference(s):
cgtn.com