Bilateral talks on condition that China renounces 9-dash claim?

THIS refers to the July 14 editorial, “Bracing victory.” The column says “China has, of course, rejected the arbitral court’s ruling and assailed the Philippines for ‘(stirring) up the trouble.’ It’s a predictable response which is of a piece with the strident rhetoric that has characterized China’s refusal to participate in the arbitration, on the contention that the court had no jurisdiction in the case.”

However, it is too early to rejoice. It must be noted that the international tribunal has no enforcement mechanism to implement its decision.  What will we do if China does not abide by the decision of the tribunal court?

Of course, to wage a war against China is at the height of folly. Toe-to-toe, we cannot match China’s military strength and capability, not to mention its relative size and clout, and we do not have the wherewithal to challenge this superpower.

To conduct bilateral talks with China is still the best option.  Our government should now adopt this as its official stance to allay growing fears in the country that war against China is around the corner. If ever, as a precondition to these talks should be the renunciation of China’s nine-dash claim and historical rights to the disputed waters of the South China Sea.

In the practical art of war, Sun Tzu says, “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”

—REGINALD B. TAMAYO, Marikina City