No doubt, by its pronouncements that the Spratlys and its contiguous group of island as it historical sovereign domain, China is now posturing itself as a big leaguer in international politics. There must be no ifs nor buts as regards China's claim as stated by its spokeperson Hong Lei: "“China asks the Philippine side to stop harming China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, which leads to unilateral actions that expand and complicate South China Sea disputes,”(Philippine Star 09 June 2011). And such was further bolstered by the pronouncement of China's Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchao "to rival claimants to the disputed Spratlys island group to stop searching for oil in the contested region without permission from China." (Inquirer 11 June 2011). People musn't be deceived to thinking otherwise, despite today's (11 June 2011) photo of DFA Secretary and the said Ambassador in a seeming cheerful handshaking gesture.
I don't think it's but a coincidence that China's ballpark-bully posture comes at a time when it's preparing to launch its first ever aircraft carrier. According to ABCNEWS:
The 990 ft., 67,500 ton carrier, long-rumored to be in development, is being constructed in the north-east port of Dalian, the report said. While Chen refused to give a specific date, the vessel is reportedly near completion and tests are expected to start later this year. It took an army of workers five years to transform the Soviet-era hull, which was initially bought by a company with ties to the Chinese army who claimed they were building a floating casino destined for Macau.
"All of the great nations in the world own aircraft carriers -- they are symbols of a great nation," Chen's assistant chief, Lt. Gen. Qi Jianguo, assistant chief of the general staff, told the Hong Kong Commercial Daily. But Jianguo also emphasized that after the carrier was deployed it would "definitely not sail to other countries' territorial waters." This said statement itself simply essays China's self-perception: that it's now a great nation (aka superpower). Having its own aircraft carrier makes China belong to only other 9 countries in the world having their own aircraft carriers (US 11; UK 1; France 1; Italy 2; Spain 1; Russia 1; India 1; Brazil 1; Thailand 1). And China's Varyag carrier will be second only to the US' Nimitz class carriers in size. Even if Chinese military officials themselves are quick to admit that the Varyag is but a refurbished derelict of the Soviet era, one musn't be naive to non-chalantly dismiss the existence of the said carrier. Years ago, people would basically equate "made in China" products to second-class, if not third class, status. Today, not anymore. What with the fact that China has just more recently leap-frogged over Japan as the world's second largest economy. Military muscle plus economic muscle, indubitably is formidable muscle. In addition, it won't hurt if we don't forget Sun Tzu the war tactician himself saying "When strong, make your enemy think you're weak."
With China's growing status, thus we must always be on the alarm despite its above latter statement that it "would definitely not sail to other countries' territorial waters." It must be remembered that China, as earlier stated, has strongly said that the Spratlys is part of its domain. Thus, it mustn't be so surprising if one of these days if the Chinese leviathan Varyag is sailing along the Spratlys one of these days, as it considers the Spratlys as but part of its suzerainty. As Lt Gen Qi Jianguo, Assistant Chief of the General Staff of China's People's Liberation Army said "We are now facing heavy pressure in the oceans whether in the South China Sea, East China Sea, Yellow Sea or the Taiwan Straits," he said.(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13692558). South China Sea is where the Spratlys are.
With all of these, thus it's but proper for any self-respecting sovereign state like the Philippines, despite its miniscule military and economic might compared to the gargantuan China, that it must continue to use everything at its disposal to stem and stop these incursions of China into its own state's territorial sealanes as provided by the UNCLOS provisions. While we believe in diplomacy as a foremost instrument in settling the muscle-flexing of China, we musn't mistake cowardly retreat as diplomacy. If a bully collars you, and demands that you give him the money you have in your pocket because it's his, and then you unresistingly gave him your money, that's not diplomacy. That's cowardly surrender. I hope that some of our Senators saying that we must settle the dispute with China "diplomatically" because it's a superpower so terrifying to resist, will come to their senses that they're not helping our country's cause at all. To them I'd say "Mabuti pa si Asiong Salonga, ipinaglalaban ang mga mahihirap kahit pa na mga malalaking tao ang kalaban nya sa pag-gawa nito." That is, though of course, it would be going against prudence for our government to rattle the sabers versus China, however, we musn't blink in front of the Chinese tiger. We musn't lose our chutzpah despite the bully's bullying stance. Real diplomacy must only be from a position of strength, never from weakness. Thus, our government leaders must show real fire-from-the-belly when dealing with the humungous China. Para kay Inang Bayang magiliw!
I don't think it's but a coincidence that China's ballpark-bully posture comes at a time when it's preparing to launch its first ever aircraft carrier. According to ABCNEWS:
The 990 ft., 67,500 ton carrier, long-rumored to be in development, is being constructed in the north-east port of Dalian, the report said. While Chen refused to give a specific date, the vessel is reportedly near completion and tests are expected to start later this year. It took an army of workers five years to transform the Soviet-era hull, which was initially bought by a company with ties to the Chinese army who claimed they were building a floating casino destined for Macau.
Itar-Tass/Newscom
The former Soviet "Varyag" aircraft-carrier... View Full Size
Itar-Tass/Newscom
The former Soviet "Varyag" aircraft-carrier in the Ukrainian port of Ilyichevsk in this June 19, 2000 file photo
"All of the great nations in the world own aircraft carriers -- they are symbols of a great nation," Chen's assistant chief, Lt. Gen. Qi Jianguo, assistant chief of the general staff, told the Hong Kong Commercial Daily. But Jianguo also emphasized that after the carrier was deployed it would "definitely not sail to other countries' territorial waters." This said statement itself simply essays China's self-perception: that it's now a great nation (aka superpower). Having its own aircraft carrier makes China belong to only other 9 countries in the world having their own aircraft carriers (US 11; UK 1; France 1; Italy 2; Spain 1; Russia 1; India 1; Brazil 1; Thailand 1). And China's Varyag carrier will be second only to the US' Nimitz class carriers in size. Even if Chinese military officials themselves are quick to admit that the Varyag is but a refurbished derelict of the Soviet era, one musn't be naive to non-chalantly dismiss the existence of the said carrier. Years ago, people would basically equate "made in China" products to second-class, if not third class, status. Today, not anymore. What with the fact that China has just more recently leap-frogged over Japan as the world's second largest economy. Military muscle plus economic muscle, indubitably is formidable muscle. In addition, it won't hurt if we don't forget Sun Tzu the war tactician himself saying "When strong, make your enemy think you're weak."
With China's growing status, thus we must always be on the alarm despite its above latter statement that it "would definitely not sail to other countries' territorial waters." It must be remembered that China, as earlier stated, has strongly said that the Spratlys is part of its domain. Thus, it mustn't be so surprising if one of these days if the Chinese leviathan Varyag is sailing along the Spratlys one of these days, as it considers the Spratlys as but part of its suzerainty. As Lt Gen Qi Jianguo, Assistant Chief of the General Staff of China's People's Liberation Army said "We are now facing heavy pressure in the oceans whether in the South China Sea, East China Sea, Yellow Sea or the Taiwan Straits," he said.(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13692558). South China Sea is where the Spratlys are.
With all of these, thus it's but proper for any self-respecting sovereign state like the Philippines, despite its miniscule military and economic might compared to the gargantuan China, that it must continue to use everything at its disposal to stem and stop these incursions of China into its own state's territorial sealanes as provided by the UNCLOS provisions. While we believe in diplomacy as a foremost instrument in settling the muscle-flexing of China, we musn't mistake cowardly retreat as diplomacy. If a bully collars you, and demands that you give him the money you have in your pocket because it's his, and then you unresistingly gave him your money, that's not diplomacy. That's cowardly surrender. I hope that some of our Senators saying that we must settle the dispute with China "diplomatically" because it's a superpower so terrifying to resist, will come to their senses that they're not helping our country's cause at all. To them I'd say "Mabuti pa si Asiong Salonga, ipinaglalaban ang mga mahihirap kahit pa na mga malalaking tao ang kalaban nya sa pag-gawa nito." That is, though of course, it would be going against prudence for our government to rattle the sabers versus China, however, we musn't blink in front of the Chinese tiger. We musn't lose our chutzpah despite the bully's bullying stance. Real diplomacy must only be from a position of strength, never from weakness. Thus, our government leaders must show real fire-from-the-belly when dealing with the humungous China. Para kay Inang Bayang magiliw!
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