Dealing with a problem like China

You gotta be away while the iron is hot” (from the movie “Forrest Gump”).

South China Sea, which includes the West Philippine Sea, has been an oozing hot, contested area in the Southeast Asian region. But what really captures the attention and imagination of observers are President Duterte’s statements on recent Chinese incursions on Philippine territory, particularly Benham Rise and Panatag/Scarborough Shoal.

Statements like: “We cannot stop China from doing this thing. The Americans cannot even stop them from doing so. My point to China is, do not do anything to my coast guard if they go there. Because they claim to own it, I claim it to be mine. In the meantime, just keep it open and don’t touch my coast guard.” Then he follows up: “Hindi natin kaya ang (We don’t have the ability to fight) China.” It was as if the President was prodding China on.

Reacting to the President’s statements, Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio cautioned him to be more circumspect with what he says about such matters.

From the House of Representatives, two of its members (Rep. Ruffy Biazon and Rep. Salvador Belaro Jr.) urged President Duterte to be transparent in his dealings with China.

To understand China’s actions, we need to see it as an emerging power not just intent on dispossessing a weak country, but also on showcasing its determination to get what it needs.

Benham Rise is not an issue for China, though it is for the Philippines. But Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal is, and China is set to assert its foothold in the area—with military might if it sees the need to. They will do this regardless of whether or not some country or superpower comes to the aid of the Philippines. This China has shown this in Vietnam which reacted more forcibly than the Philippines has, so far.

President Duterte should refrain from any act or statement that, expressly or implicitly, waives Philippine sovereignty over any Philippine territory, be this in West Philippine Sea or elsewhere. He should instead file a strong, formal protest against the Chinese’s “construction projects” in Panatag.

American support, like how the United States expressed it relative to Japan’s Senkaku Island dispute with China, might be of some help. Although China has shown it is not easily cowed by US military might. Also, let’s bear in mind that Japan’s and our country’s military capabilities pale in comparison to China’s, not to mention the distance between America and Asia.

The President may be using “soft politics” in dealing with China, but he should not lose sight of the moral victory we achieved at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in  The Hague, which thumbed down China’s “historic rights” over disputed maritime territories in the South China Sea. We may not match China’s military might, but we have global support because we are in the right. China may be bent on “might is right,” but we have solid backing to stand for “right is might.”

All these don’t mean we have to be hostile to China. Aside from political concerns, there are other issues we have to address, as well—like the economy.

KRISTINA E. GABILAN,

kegabilan@gmail.com