This year, the Philippines' conduct on the South China Sea issue has been bewildering: Atfirst, it pretended to be a victim of China's "threat of force", complained that China waspreventing it from supplying the warship beached on the Ren'ai Reef, and accused China ofrefusing to accept arbitration on the issue. Then before the quest for sympathy had evenhad a chance to run its course, the Philippines suddenly adopted a hard line. On May 6, 2014, armed personnel from the Philippines detained a Chinese fishing boat around theHalf Moon Shoal in the Nansha Islands, and on the same day a senior military official of thePhilippines announced a so-called "Defense Plan of the South China Sea" through Japanesemedia channels.
The Philippines tough stance was not taken on a whim: their confidence to challenge Chinaon the South China Sea issue stems from the belief that they have the protection andsupport of the US.
It is true that the US has signed an "Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement" with thePhilippines. And the two countries are carrying on a joint military exercises "shoulder toshoulder", based on scenarios such as "coping with possible invasion" - an obvious dig atChina. Therefore, the Philippines indulges itself in the belief that on the South China Seaissue, the interests and stance of the US and the Philippines are as one, and the US will pickup the tab for the Philippines' actions.
In fact, the Philippines has been blinded by its reliance on the US. It fails to see that the USis trying to protect its interests in the South China Sea, which includes the overall stabilityof the area. The US has tried everything it can think of to constrain China, while avoidingdirect conflict. The US needs the Philippines to be its ally, but at the same time it attachesgreat importance to establishing a new-type great power relationship with China. DuringObama's visit to the Philippines, he confirmed in public that the US has no intention ofconfronting China or restraining its peaceful rise. The American side emphasized thatdefense cooperation between the US and the Philippines targets terrorism, piracy,smuggling, natural disasters and other areas. Obviously, those areas do not involve China.The US deliberately keeps its policy vague as it is unwilling to provoke China overtly; itwould be impossible for the US to help the Philippines attack China on the South China Sea.
China takes an unwavering stand on protecting its territory and sovereignty, and has nofear of provocation from any country. On the incident of the detained Chinese fishing boat,the Chinese coast guard arrived promptly on the scene, and China resolved the issuethrough diplomatic channels, requiring the Philippine side to release the crew and the boatand give a reasonable explanation.
After the Huangyan Island incident, China implemented regular naval patrols around theisland and put an end to Filippino harassment of Chinese boats in the area. Making thesame mistake again will do no good to the Philippines.
As a responsible country, China has the confidence and willpower to face interference fromoutside forces. The Philippines would be well advised to think carefully before acting.
The article is edited and translated from《菲律宾“示强”自讨没趣》, source: People'sDaily Overseas Edition, author: Su Xiaohui.
