MANILA, Philippines - The government under President Benigno Aquino III just needs to continue what it has been doing so far in the ongoing West Philippine Sea dispute even while China's "bullying" and verbal attacks go on, a political analyst said.
Dr. Clarita Carlos, foreign policy expert and a political science professor at the University of the Philippines, said the government needs only to respond accordingly to China's remarks since the Asian giant is only employing psychological play.
Carlos said China will soon get tired of its own game.
"Sagutin natin nang tama. Buti nga ngayon si (Foreign Affairs Sec. Albert) del Rosario, hindi na siya ngimi na magsalita nang prangka sa China kasi dati noon we are so friendly. Ngayon eh medyo maanghang na ang sinasabi niya. And I think that's what China needs," Carlos said in an interview with Philstar.com
China claims indisputable, historical sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea through its nine-dash line claim, prompting the Philippines to seek legal recourse through international arbitration before a United Nations tribunal, which has decided to start hearing the case.
Meantime, China, which has refused to join the arbitration, has also continued with its verbal attacks even against Filipino officials, branding the Philippines as the provocateur in the sea dispute and accusing it of allegedly continuing "to play up the issue of the South China Sea, distort the facts and smear China."
Manila has responded to China's verbal attacks, saying its accusations are baseless and urging it to follow the rule of law.
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Amid the sea dispute and verbal tussle, Carlos disagrees that the country should also intensify its forces in the West Philippine Sea. She said the Aquino administration is already doing its best to solve the issue.
"I think the government is doing the best that it can under the circumstances. Let's continue with what we have and as much as possible, we deal with it in a non-military manner," said Carlos, who is also a consultant at the Department of Foreign Affairs and a former president of the National Defense College of the Philippines.
In his speech during the Independence Day celebrations last June 12, Aquino vowed to defend Philippine territory through non-violent means and to upgrade the military amid the ongoing dispute with China.
"As we stand for our rights, we must continue exhibiting the values Filipinos are known for: Aggression does not run in our veins, but neither will we back down from any challenge. And while we will protect our rights and continue to build consensus with all parties to promote calm and understanding, we must also increase the capabilities of our Armed Forces," said Aquino.
Play economic card, let allies use Phl bases
Carlos also urged the government to play the "economic card" in the ongoing territorial row. She said the government should ban Beijing in project biddings and in exporting products here since China had also prohibited Philippine products such as bananas and mangoes.
"Let's be smart and also use the economic card. Kasi hindi naman pwedeng panalo ang China all the time," she said.
The analyst also sees nothing wrong with the government's reported plan to allow the United States, Japan and other allies access to Philippine military bases amid the territorial dispute with China.
"We have every right to do that. We have every right to allow anybody for that matter," said Carlos, who also downplayed fears that such access arrangements for the country's military bases would be contrary to Philippine sovereignty and interests.
"Sovereignty is an old world concoction. It is one of the biggest scourges of mankind," she added.