Showdown
We are still a few weeks from US President-elect Donald Trump officially taking office, but it seems a showdown with China is already looming. Trump recently accepted a call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, where the latter congratulated him on his victory. This did not sit well with Beijing. There is a "One China Policy" that countries are supposed to follow, in which Taiwan is still treated as part of mainland China, and not a separate state or government. The policy was put in place in 1979, as a requirement to establishing US-China diplomatic relations.
But according to Trump, why does he have to follow that? He has gone public questioning the One China Policy. A new agreement must be made taking into consideration what Trump sees as China's unfair trade and currency practices, tariffs and military buildup in the South China Sea, along with North Korea's nuclear program which Beijing seems to turn a blind eye on.
Beijing seemed willing to let the phone call to Trump slide, but Trump, in what is now expected of him, rattled their feathers with his latest comments on the policy. Taiwan has always been considered a friend of the US. Most of Taiwan's military is supplied with US-made weapons and hardware. They have kept Beijing at bay for almost seven decades.
On another note, President Duterte said he was keen to accept China's offer for weapons, supposedly payable in 25 years. He has instructed members of his cabinet to study the offer, which many already see as a done deal. I am no expert in weapons and arms, but we all know what "Made in China" usually entails, right? Social media is rife with concerns about the quality of these weapons, especially if they are being offered on installment basis. The police and military have been used to using American-made weapons. This shift will definitely be a change for our police and soldiers. We can only hope they perform accordingly when needed.
So while Beijing is seemingly doing everything to make the Duterte administration smile, it is concerned about the ascension of Donald Trump into the White House. Trump has also mentioned the issues of China with regard to the South China Sea. America's freedom of navigation and overflight may escalate with a Trump administration, furthering even more chagrin from Beijing. The Philippines, on the other hand, has made it clear that the US cannot use the country's bases and ports as staging areas for these patrols. The administration does not want to do anything to antagonize or anger China in any way right now, being the recipient of Chinese generosity and accommodation. How the Trump administration will eventually see this is something that is yet to be revealed. It may seem all friendly and cozy at the moment, as compared to Duterte's treatment of President Barack Obama. But as they say, that is probably the calm before the storm. There is also concern about Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement, which seeks to bring back businesses to the US. There may be more at stake than just friendship.
- Latest
