Who’s going to stand up to China’s bullying?

China risks being “self-isolated” from the rest of the world unless its leaders see daylight and decide to respect legal procedures and reason in the South China Sea row, even as US Defense Secretary Ash Carter vows action in the event China would build another structure around the hotly disputed body of waters.

Through the many Chinese-Filipino friends that I’ve known over the years both as a businessman and preacher of God’s Word, I’ve come to realize that the Chinese are a decent and kind-hearted people. Thus I want to believe that China, as a nation, would prefer the preservation of life and properties, peace and development over war, death and devastation.

Making a U-Turn is still the wise and honorable thing for China to do. The effort and money it has spent on the illegal structures already erected in the disputed waters are not worth a dime compared to the massive, needless waste China would incur if its leaders insist on their narcissistic isolated stand, not to mention the ravage of cities and ruin of millions of innocent lives in and outside of China.

Far exceeding my concern for my own country, the Philippines—and neighbor-countries that have stake in the Scarborough Shoal—is the unimaginable  trouble that the situation might create as a consequence or precedence if China would get away with its  “diplomatic” misconduct or bullying of its neighbors, and ultimately succeed in grabbing territories.

The UN International Arbitration Court is expected to debunk the “historical” claims of the invader and decide against its whims and greed. But China’s rulers keep beating around the bush, going all the way like they were the king of kings while, in the background, little by little, they occupy the West Philippine Sea.

What if the United States just sits idly by, cold and indifferent about the problem? Who else has the guts or heart to “fill the gap” to maintain order among civilized nations today and to prevent worldwide chaos and anarchy in the future?

After having researched and studied thoroughly the case of China and the Philippines’ protest over the former’s assertions and incursions in the contested sea, the questions remaining unanswered in my mind are these:

How do you deal with a situation in your family as a parent if your eldest boy just grabs the box of candies from his younger brother and claims it to be his own without your consent or approval?  And what if the eldest boy, notwithstanding entreaties, arrogates himself and starts eating the candies, ignoring your words, scorning your judgment and defying your authority?

Answer, please!

—RENI M. VALENZUELA, renimvalenzuela@yahoo.com