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Opinion | South China Sea: collision takes three-way game of chicken closer to the brink for Philippines, US and China
- China’s latest action raises tit-for-tat to new level as Manila deepens military cooperation with the US and threatens to invoke the mutual defence treaty
- This escalation should come as no surprise to the Philippines, given it has chosen to draw closer to the US militarily
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Mass media in the region and beyond have been blaring out news of the latest China-Philippines incident in the South China Sea, in which a Chinese coastguard vessel and a civilian but navy-crewed Philippine supply ship collided. The Philippines is whining and wailing about China’s increased aggressiveness. But this should not be a surprise.
The incident, which occurred in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines, is not about who is legally right or wrong – each side accuses the other of being at fault.
Rather, it is a result of basing foreign policy on theoretical legal principles and hopes. It is about reality. As my union agent used to say, “you can’t eat principle”. The Philippines knew what was likely to happen if it chose to side with the US, especially militarily. It is reaping the results of that choice.
This particular incident raised eyebrows and tensions because it was more serious. But the onus is on China, for having its coastguard try to prevent the Philippines from resupplying its troops, who are stationed on a deteriorating naval vessel at Second Thomas Shoal, intentionally run aground as a symbol of its ownership.
China’s blocking violated the Philippines’ freedom of navigation. Making the situation worse, the Philippines had invited the media on board one of its vessels to video and report on China’s expected transgressions.
China’s latest action raised the tit-for-tat to a new level. It is enforcing its claim to all features in the South China Sea and most of the waters, based on its 10-dash line historic claim. Legally, its claim to features above water at high tide like Scarborough Shoal is just as strong or weak as that of the Philippines and others like Vietnam.
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