Feeling the heat

The way the Chinese are ranting, they must be all riled up with recent adverse developments.
In their distorted perception, Chinese officials accused the Philippines of being “a troublemaker and unsettling the stability of the region.”

The Philippines incurred China’s ire by posing the most serious challenge to Beijing’s excessive claim over the entire South China Sea when Manila elevated to international arbitration its sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea in accordance with the United Nations Law of the Sea. UNCLOS gives nations with coast lines a 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

Beijing must be feeling the heat. It stepped up its propaganda attack after the panel of judges in the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea announced it would start hearing Manila’s case without or without China’s participation.

Earlier, China received a rebuke when US President Barack Obama warned an official Chinese delegation against the use of coercion and intimidation in maritime disputes during two days of wide-ranging talks in Washington.

Much earlier, State Department officials and the Commanding Admiral of the US Naval Forces in the Pacific conveyed the same message. But this time, it was the US commander in chief himself talking.

Apart from US interest to keep navigational lanes in the South China Sea open, one can assume the Obama statement and the ITLOS action was driven by world opinion against China’s aggressive moves in the region.
While there is a school of thought who contend there is no such thing as a world opinion, China is mindful of what the international community says about it.

Chito Santaromana, who spent 30 years in China as an exile from the Marcos regime and later as Beijing bureau chief of the American Broadcasting Company TV network , said it is important to the Chinese not to lose face.

Despite their inscrutable countenance, the Chinese are affected by world opinion judging by their strong statements against the Philippines which makes them look like the villain.

China knows world opinion can sway the United Nations to action. Although the UN does not speak in one voice, and often dissonant, it is still able to carry out its mandate through its related agencies in acting against tyranny, aggression and crimes against humanity.

The world is watching how far China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, can and will go in its calibrated aggression in maritime disputes with Japan and the Philippines remains to be seen.
China occupied Tibet but has taken its time with “renegade province” Taiwan. Beijing knows Taiwan is armed to the teeth and has full US backing, The Mainland leadership no longer threatens to launch an invasion across the Straits of Formosa.

Japan won’t be bullied on the Senkaku Island territorial row. Threatened by an aggressive China, Japan’s political leaders plan to amend its pacifist constitution so it can rearm.

Meanwhile, we have yet to hear our politicians speak out on the Chinese threat. Instead, they are more concern on the possible violation of the Constitution over giving our allies access to Subic naval base.
With billions in pork barrel funds lost to a scam syndicate, the President should really abolish the practice of allocating money to senators and congressmen’s pet projects.

Why not use the PDAF appropriation to beef up the military?

Incoming Senate President Franklin Drilon expressed the view it does not require legislation to abolish the graft-ridden pork barrel. It’s really President Aquino’s call.

Waging war with China is a no- brainer. But bolstering our self-defense capability and spending for the nation’s security should be paramount in our leaders’ agenda.

source:  Manila Standard today's Column of Alejandro Del Rosario