Bully of the high seas?

Cooler heads have prevailed, or at least the more level-headed ones, in the standoff on the high seas between our naval forces and that of China, when our newest and most modern warship, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar backed off and sailed away from the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

This was met with a similar action by the Chinese, although they have sent more non-military vessels in the area. We have also sent a Coast Guard ship to make its presence felt as well. So now that the diplomats are taking over, at least we hope so, there are still so many vessels in the area to say that the tension has lifted.

What has happened, to the benefit of the Chinese, is that the fishing vessels that were illegally fishing in the disputed area have slipped away in all the posturing, with all their catch in tow. The giant clams, the corals, the live sharks. They came up ahead in this one. Damn it.

It is really hard to talk to a person who at the onset already believes he is right and is without contestation. Such is China, who claims ALL of the islands in the South China Sea, or the West Philippine Sea if you’re one of us. They are not open to any form of discussion, dialogue or even international arbitration on the matter of the Scarborough Shoal and the Spratly Islands. For all intents and purposes, they own it and they can do whatever they want with it, on it, under it. Which explains the intrusions by these fishermen, who have come all the way from the Chinese mainland, to harvest the bounties of the Shoal. And bounties indeed.

There is the belief that the areas in dispute are rich in oil and gas, much like the oceans around Venezuela, and it is only a matter of finding and extracting them. We as well as China stand to benefit greatly from such a find, since it would greatly augment our respective countries’ energy needs. Thus the reason why these small patches of sand that at times even disappear under the waters are being adamantly claimed. Even to the point of sending the military in.

China should respect the fact that since there is a dispute, and for as long as a solution or a decision as to who really owns the islands, making unilateral sweeping claims of ownership and raking in the benefits of the seas is not only uncalled for, it is outright arrogance. Nobody should benefit from the area for now. Nobody should unilaterally benefit from the bounties of that portion of the sea. Nobody should poach. Make the area off limits to any form of commercial or personal fishing until a resolution is made. But a discussion in an international forum is something China just does not want to do. I wonder why?

Nobody disputes the military might of this giant, and how they could easily engage whatever armed forces the region may come up with to confront them. Vietnam knows that all too well. We would do ell to learn from that debacle. But that would only strengthen the already present image of a bully, forcibly collecting money from all the smaller kids in school. A bully of the high seas.

Bullies usually get their comeuppance, right Uncle?