More Communist China act than bullying

"What is bullying? From our diverse human experiences, we have developed a common understanding of the meaning of this word. But, looking for a more accurate definition, I asked the internet’s safari for its meaning. This is its answer. “Bullying is when an individual uses superior strength or influence to intimidate someone, typically to force him or her to do what one wants. Bullying can also be defined as the repeated actions that are intended to cause fear, distress, or harm to another person.”

Bullying then, as defined above, applies to a person. Can it also apply to a country? I opined in many previous articles I wrote that this godless communist country called People’s Republic of China is a bully. For validation, I also asked the internet if Communist China is considered bullying in its relation with the Philippines, over the issue of the West Philippine Sea. This is its reply: “Yes. The Philippine government, international allies, and global legal experts widely consider China's actions to be bullying and coercion. China consistently uses aggressive tactics to intimidate the Philippines and assert control over the West Philippine Sea.

The internet proceeds with identifying the evidence of China’s bullying tactics. As dangerous maneuvers, Chinese Coast Guard routinely blocks, swarms, and dangerously rams Philippine resupply and patrol vessels. There had been physical and material injuries when Chinese ships fired high-pressure water cannons at Philippine boats, shattering windshields, bending metal railings, and injuring Philippine Navy crew members. In certain incidents, Chinese warships have occasionally pointed their targeting radars at Philippine Navy ships. Without doubt, the communists conducted this aggressive military escalation designed to threaten and intimidate our lilliputian nation.

Why are the acts of this giant Communist superpower considered international bullying? The Filipino people must remember that in 2016, the Permanent International Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague issued a landmark ruling in favor of the Philippines. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Philippines has a 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). For example, the Scarborough Shoal is located just 150 miles off the coast of Luzon, while it is more than 500 miles away from China's nearest main island, Hainan. This gives the Philippines the exclusive right to explore and exploit resources, such as fish and oil, in these waters. In effect, the court completely invalidated China’s expansive "nine-dash line" territorial claim.

Worse than its bullying tactics, Communist China has, in violation of Philippine territorial sovereignty, invaded and established major military facilities, including airbases and naval outposts, on seven reefs in the Spratly Islands within the West Philippine Sea. These fortified islands are Subi Reef, Mischief Reef, Fiery Cross Reef, Cuarteron Reef, Gaven Reef, Hughes Reef, and Johnson South Reef.

Why do I take efforts to state this bullying done by Communist China? I fear that this godless power house has begun asserting its arrogance over our government. Here is an instance. The Cebu City Sangguniang Panlungsod, upon the sponsorship of Councilor Paul Labra, approved a resolution declaring July 12 as West Philippine Sea Victory Day. Imagine the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Cebu issuing a diplomatic note expressing "gravest concern and firm opposition” and in diplomatic language insisting upon the Cebu City Council to withdraw the declaration. What temerity!