Welcome dose of common sense

For many Filipinos, it’s a frustrating choice we’ve had to make with China. On one side, there’s the very real, non-negotiable issue of our sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. On the other, there’s the simple, everyday reality that China is our neighbor and a massive part of our economic life. For too long, it seemed we were being forced to choose between defiant nationalism and quiet submission, with no room for pragmatism in between.

That’s why the recent moves by our Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Ma. Theresa Lazaro, feel like a gust of fresh, pragmatic air. In just six months, she has attempted the delicate but crucial task of restoring balance.

The most concrete example of this new approach is the reinstatement of the eVisa for Chinese tourists, set to begin this November. To understand why this is a seismic shift, forget complex diplomatic charts. Just listen to the palpable sigh of relief in our tourism industry.

Think of a small family that owns a resort in Boracay. Before the pandemic, their lobby was often filled with Chinese families, their bookings were a steady source of income that paid for school fees and groceries. The pandemic dried up that stream. Just as they hoped for a recovery, geopolitical tensions flared. The loud “Sinophobia” campaign, while perhaps intended for other purposes, had a very real side effect — it scared away their customers.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco didn’t hide the impact. The suspension of the e-Visa in 2023, she said, hurt us “measurably.” The numbers tell a stark story. In 2019, 1.74-million Chinese visitors spent $2.3 billion. That’s not just a statistic; it includes the collective income of hotel workers, tour guides, and carinderia owners.

While our neighbors thrived, we fell tragically behind. Thailand welcomed 25.5-million tourists, Malaysia 25 million, and Vietnam 17.5 million. The Philippines? A dismal 5.9 million, barely ahead of crisis-stricken Myanmar. And the top source of tourists for all these thriving economies? Your guess is right — China, the Philippines’ top trading partner, with close to $45 billion in bilateral trade.

Secretary Lazaro’s move is a clear signal that we can protect our rights without cutting off our nose to spite our face. It’s a decision rooted in common sense, not fear.

Expectedly, the usual critics are up in arms. One congressman, among many others, immediately cried about “spies” and “criminals,” painting every Chinese tourist as a threat. But have these widespread “spy networks” ever been proven in court, or are they just convenient bogeymen for the media?

Meanwhile, Chinese syndicates preying on their own nationals have been busted, often with the cooperation of the Chinese embassy.

Confronting immense pressure from all sides, Lazaro’s job is one of the toughest in the Cabinet. By focusing on this simple people-to-people initiative, she is reminding us of a fundamental truth — there is more to diplomacy than warships and statements. It’s also about making it easier for people to connect, trade, and share experiences.

This single policy may not solve the deep-seated issues in the West Philippine Sea, but it’s a vital first step in untangling a complex relationship, and a welcome dose of common sense in the country’s foreign policy.

It shows we can be principled in defending our territory while being practical about the economic benefits that come with a functional relationship.

For that family in Boracay and thousands of others running tourism-related businesses, the Chinese e-Visa is both a diplomatic win and hope for a better season ahead.

It’s the sound of booking notifications pinging on their phones and computers, and that’s a hope anyone can understand.