Why PNoy and BBM leaned on America, not China

The world’s predominant superpower will always create the conditions to perpetuate its global dominance and weaker nations will always be subsumed by these conditions. Like it or not, that’s just how the world works. It was true during the ancient Byzantine and Roman empires as it was true during the recent British and American empires.

How do superpowers create the conditions to perpetuate their dominance? They write the rules for global trade and geopolitical engagement; they dominate the world economy; they develop the world’s strongest military; they control critical technologies; they become the world’s primary source of trade and investments; they form strategic diplomatic alliances and they develop the strongest cultural influence.

Superpowers engage in unethical practices to maintain their global influence too. These include instigating wars, interfering in domestic affairs, enforcing trade sanctions, igniting political instability and installing puppet governments, among others.

America has been the lone superpower for more than a century. But they are now challenged by China. With its growing economic and military gravitas, China aims to install a new world order based on the values of the Chinese Communist Party. They want to re-write global rules and norms to fit their agenda.

The American and Chinese systems

Regardless of who we side with, the Philippines (and other smaller nations) will have to adhere to the world order according to the reigning superpower. It becomes a question of where our values and strategic interest are better aligned.

We already know the rules-of-engagement of America. We lived under her thumb for decades. The good thing is that our values coincide. America perpetuates democracy, free trade, pluralism and diversity. They value the liberty to pursue individual goals and require a justice system that upholds human rights and social order.

There is no denying that America resorts to the unethical practices mentioned above. But thankfully, America counts the Philippines as an important ally whose continued socioeconomic development serves her purpose. Our sovereignty and economic wellbeing are not under threat by America.

China operates with different ideals. Underpinning Chinese values are Marxist-Leninist principles with the Chinese Communist Party as the supreme authority. Chinese patriotism and their national interest are primordial, even at the expense of individual rights. Enforcement of rules  could be severe with nary a respect for human rights. They embrace capitalism with the goal of achieving a socialist society.

China operates with its own set of unethical practices. They ignore international laws; they ignore sovereign boundaries, freely sailing in the exclusive economic zones and flying over the air defense identification zones of sovereign nations; they ignore commitments made in word and written declarations; they resort to bullying tactics, both militarily and through trade sanctions; they buy politicians; they engage in commercial blackmail, among many others.

On Sept. 16, 1991, the Philippines elected not to renew the Philippine-US Treaty of Friendship, effectively ejecting US military bases from the country. American military bases were viewed as a legacy of the colonial era. For 23 years, the US remained a friend and treaty partner, but at arm’s length. This was the opportunity for China to win Philippine favor.

But China pushed too hard

Instead of becoming a partner in development, China stabbed the Philippines in the back. In 2005, the Philippine government granted China and Vietnam the rights to conduct seismic surveys on the disputed Spratly island chain. This was the opening that allowed China to illegally grab Philippine sovereign territories.

In 2013, in a unilateral act of aggression, China announced that the Spratlys, Parcel islands and Macclesfield Bank would be administered by Sasha city, a territory of China.

In 2014, the Philippines filed a case against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Many feared that China was preparing to militarize the area – an allegation that China vehemently denied.

But in 2015, satellite images confirmed that China was indeed building an airstrip at Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) Reef. It also showed a second airstrip in nearby Zamora (Subi) Reef. Heavy dredging indicated China’s intent to link these small landmasses to build a full-blown military base. This was exactly what happened.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in the Philippines’ favor. China refused to recognize the tribunal’s decision. It even expanded its territorial grab and accelerated the construction of its military base.

Adding insult to injury is China’s relentless and ruthless bullying of our fishermen. They are gunned with water cannons, blinded with laser lights and threatened with gunfire. Our fishermen are bamboozled by Chinese ships, accosted and their fishing equipment destroyed. In 2022, the Chinese government unilaterally put a stop to all fishing activities in the disputed waters.

The Philippine conundrum

Unbearable bullying from China left the Philippines with two options. One, strengthen military relations with its former colonizer and live with the advantages and disadvantages of American presence. Or two, give up our sovereignty of the West Philippine Sea, give up our fishing rights, give up our rights to the minerals, natural gas and oil deposits and live with the threat of Chinese annexation of more Philippine territories.

In 2014, the Philippines, under PNoy’s leadership, chose to lean-in on the US. This was manifested in the signing of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), a covenant that gave US troops access to five Philippine military bases. The Americans were allowed to pre-position supplies and deploy troops therewith.

Former president Duterte’s reverence for China and the promise of $24 billion in investments and ODA (which never materialized) were not enough to assuage public distrust for China, the perceived national tormentor. Surveys by SWS and Pulse Asia revealed China as the most distrusted country among Filipinos.

In 2022, the looming threat of China’s expansionism and its relentless bullying compelled PBBM to expand EDCA. As a result, the US now has access to four more military bases in Cagayan, Isabela, Zambales and Palawan.

So were PNoy and PBBM correct to lean-in on the US? Look, the American and Chinese systems are both flawed. The difference is that America has no interest in annexing Philippine sovereign territories. In fact, they are helping us defend our territorial domain. And as mentioned earlier, we know how America operates and have proven that we can thrive under the American system. This cannot be said for China.

While a handful may deem the grass greener on China’s side, the majority of Filipinos still cannot fathom living under a world order designed by the Chinese Communist Party. Chinese style authoritarianism goes against Filipino DNA.

*      *      *

Email: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @aj_masigan