A view of China's Huangyan Island in the South China Sea. [Photo/Xinhua]
In the complex geopolitical landscape of the Asia-Pacific, the recent tensions between China and the Philippines, as a consequence of Manila's provocative words and actions in relation to its territorial disputes with China, have ignited concerns of potential conflict between the two countries.
As the region grapples with the long-standing territorial disputes and competing maritime claims in the waters, it is imperative that all stakeholders exercise restraint and prioritize diplomacy and dialogue.
Yet it seems that Manila is determined to play the role of an ill-intentioned troublemaker in the South China Sea, as evidenced by the Philippine defense chief's bragging in an interview about the Philippines being part of a possible coalition against China with the United States and several other Western countries.
In his interview with the Associated Press published on Wednesday, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro laid bare Manila's intention to escalate tensions and drag the US and its allies and partners into a face-off with China.
Teodoro said the Philippines and its security allies would take measures to counter any attempt by China to impose an air defense zone or restrict freedom of flights over the South China Sea. This remark was clearly based on the false notion that China is considering doing so.
In 2013, China established an air defense identification zone in the East China Sea in accordance with international norms due to the worsened security environment around its Diaoyu Islands. The country has the legitimate right to do the same with regard to its territorial waters in the South China Sea. It is the Philippines, with its repeated provocations over China's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the South China Sea, that is pushing China toward that.
By playing Manila's now customary trick of distorting facts and confusing right and wrong, Teodoro accused China of posing "the greatest threat" to the national security of the Philippines, and doubled down on that false accusation by suggesting that it should also be deemed to be "a global threat".
This is nonsense.
The fact is, it is the Philippines, emboldened by the backing of the previous US administration to act aggressively in the South China Sea, that is posing a serious threat to peace and stability in the waters and the region at large.
The Philippine defense chief's warmongering rhetoric shows that he clearly does not know which way the wind is blowing today. The new US administration under Donald Trump has sent an unmistakable message to allies and partners that they should take security in their own hands, and that US security protection is no longer a free lunch.
With the US wary of being dragged into a conflict by its allies, Manila should recalibrate its approach to its territorial disputes with China. The only viable way forward for the Philippines is to opt for dialogue and negotiations. If it continues with its reckless provoking of China, it will only find itself discarded as proxy by the US, which will rightly view it as a liability.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a news conference held on the sidelines of the ongoing two sessions on Friday that a third reading of the text for the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea has been completed. This should be a wake-up call to Manila that its troublemaking in the waters runs counter to the region's prevailing desire for peace and stability.
No sovereign country would sit idle if an unruly neighbor that coveted its territory started encroaching on it. China is no exception, and it has accordingly stepped up its maritime law enforcement patrols in the South China Sea, and the People's Liberation Army has also enhanced its vigilance and combat preparedness, including conducting training maneuvers and military drills in the waters, so as to be ready to defend the country's maritime interests and rights as necessary.
Manila should strive to play its part in fostering an environment of friendly engagement, so the region is characterized by peace, stability, and mutual prosperity. If it continues to try to set off fireworks in the South China Sea amid the complex dynamics of the Asia-Pacific, it will only be a burnt child that dreads the fire.
