China’s ambiguous foreign policy

Last week, China officially declared Philippine Secretary of National Defense Teodoro “persona non grata”, including members of his family from all Chinese territories. The official reason stated by the Chinese Embassy was the provocative statements of Teodoro on the incursions of Chinese ships/boats, Coast Guard ships, the latest an exploration/research ship inside the coastal waters of the Philippines. Unofficially, maybe the arrest of illegal undocumented Chinese nationals suspected as spies.

The Philippine government has actually been protesting these recurring violations of Chinese naval vessels, since the pullout of the American air and naval bases in Clark and Subic in Luzon. The Philippine government’s protests got louder and more often, after the UNCLOS declared that the Chinese government’s claim on the territorial waters in the South China Sea was without basis. At this time, the Philippine government must have filed thousands of diplomatic protests, and hundreds of naval and aerial pushbacks on these Chinese incursions/violations, including some dramatic standoffs at sea which resulted in skirmishes and damages. Add to these, the building of permanent structures and damaging the coral seabeds which are clearly within the Philippine economic zones and coastal territories.

China has not only been doing these to the Philippines, but also to other countries in the Pacific, especially surrounding the South China Sea. They already had/have ongoing issues with Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, and Indonesia, but the Philippines has the most frequent and active confrontations, as China has claimed the largest territorial waters around the Philippines. China uses what is known as a “gray fleet”, actually state-directed civilian (fishing boats included) and paramilitary vessels that acts as extension of the Chinese navy and Coast Guard to assert territorial claims, and geopolitical pressure without starting an armed conflict. This is an example of China’s deliberate ambiguous foreign policy.

Since the resurgence of China as the second largest economic power in the world, the Chinese government have been asserting its military power to the whole world. Their nominal annual GDP is now 65% of the U.S. They have become the factory of the world, they control large percentage of critical minerals, they have ramped up technological advances, and are in the top five in terms of military armaments. Against the historical backdrop of being conquered/dominated by the western powers and Japan centuries ago, the Chinese government is flexing/showing their muscle to the world.

On the other hand, China has been showing the more sensible diplomatic foreign policy to all the countries in the world. Their trade and commerce initiatives and relationships have been a boon for many countries. They have flooded the world with affordable products, and invested in critical infrastructures in developing countries that raised the standard of living in many countries. They however also have made predatory, one-sided investments/loans that were disastrous to some countries.

While China’s official foreign policy is to be a good and responsible member of the global community, there is an unofficial hegemonic policy to acquire more areas and territories for sources of raw materials and extend its political influence beyond its borders. This has something to do with communism’s authoritarian ideology promotion, or at the very least prevent contamination with democratic ideas. So, the Chinese government has active spies and covert intelligence agencies in many countries. Uncunningly, Deng Xiaoping, the real architect of China’s economic resurgence, warned against China falling into this situation.

Despite China’s superpower status, economically and militarily, their government is uncomfortable/uneasy in allowing a free enterprise market economy, while restricting political freedom and rights. A broadening middle class has to be increasingly satisfied to prevent higher moral and ideological aspirations. At this century, China’s deliberate ambiguous foreign policies are part of the equation.