Again, what now?

I’m sorry but I just could not help myself. When I found out about the Chinese frigate that ran aground on the very shoal it was bullying us away from, I just could not help but say, “Yes! Buti nga!” Now they have to send a fleet to salvage their stricken warship. Ha! I’m sure it hardly made a dent in their immense military budget, but thank God for small favors! Maybe it will run aground again, who knows? Maybe whoever the captain of that ship is will be punished severely, who knows? Maybe a super typhoon will, well, you get the picture.

I’m sorry if I’m sarcastic. Well I am. Especially after nothing was accomplished in the recently concluded useless ASEAN meeting hosted by another, well, you get the picture. Apparently Cambodia is way up inside China’s, well you get the picture. Interests, I meant interests. No joint statement regarding the current problems in the West Philippine Sea was issued by the regional body, despite strong protests by us and Vietnam regarding China’s bullying over disputed islands. This is the first time in the organization’s history that a joint statement was not issued by ASEAN. That says a lot about the influence of the giant country!

Even with no less than Sec. Hillary Clinton saying that a code of conduct must be followed regarding the area, some countries chose to be oblivious to the plight of those with more than legitimate claims to the islands. All because of the might and influence of China. Might I add fear. So what now?

With the failure of the ASEAN summit, even with the endorsement of the US for a code of conduct regarding the West Philippine Sea and its fishing and shipping lanes, what path do the countries with legitimate claims take, if China is non-cooperative for the dispute to be tackled by an international forum? Coupled with the fact that more and more Chinese military and surveillance/research vessels are being sent to the disputed islands as we speak! Even coming out with a statement that any oil exploration in the West Philippine Sea will not be allowed nor tolerated sans permission from China! If that isn’t a provocative statement, which China claims it is not at all doing, then I don’t know what language they are speaking!

So what now? It is obvious that any more discussions with China concerning our legitimate claims on certain islands in the West Philippine Sea will lead to more veiled threats of force and actual intimidation from the belligerent nation. The Palace has said that it is not giving up versus China. In searching for a multilateral solution to territorial disputes in the region before ASEAN and other international fora, that is. I’m just being realistic, lest you read into my words too much! We really cannot afford to overreact, even if we wanted to.

I only hope something can really be achieved. Because frankly, this is getting nowhere. You get the picture.