Philippines in the eyes of China

News item: China media warns PH of 'counterstrike' in South China Sea  http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/world/06/29/13/china-media-warns-ph-counterstrike-south-china-sea

In a commentary, China’s media pictured the Philippines as a baby crying for milk from her patron USA aided by its friend ASEAN. The commentary also remarked that Manila is resorting to several “unscrupulous” acts” in the disputed waters.

On Thursday, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned that countries with territorial claims in the South China Sea that look for help from third parties will find their efforts "futile", adding that the path of confrontation would be "doomed".

China promised last week  to protect its sovereignty over the Second Thomas Shoal, known in China as the Ren'ai reef. The Philippines is accusing China of encroachment after three Chinese ships, including a naval frigate, converged just five nautical miles from an old transport ship that Manila ran aground on a reef in 1999 to mark its territory.

Also, China’s Foreign Minister warned on Thursday that countries with territorial claims in the South China Sea that look for help from third parties will find their efforts "futile", adding that the path of confrontation would be "doomed".

China and the Philippineswere locked in a tense two-month standoff last year at the Scarborough Shoal, which is only about 124 nautical miles off the Philippine coast. Chinese ships now control the shoal, often chasing away Filipino fishermen.

The 10-member ASEAN hopes to reach a legally binding Code of Conduct to manage maritime conduct in disputed areas. For now a watered-down "Declaration of Conduct" is in place.

Is Manila prepared to face this menace? Philippines is weak and depends mainly on American support for defense. But is America willing to go all the way to defend the Philippines if and when China decides to turn its velicose words into actions and actually attack the Philippines?

The situation is tense and could blow any moment  from a word war into a shooting match. And we must look into reality. What is in stake is our sovereignity as a nation, not just a “ward” of the USA, or a child  tha can be bullied by a big bad boy.

Our weakness lies on the fact that we have neglected to industrialize to be self sufficient. We are weak because we do not have industries that can make our own defense, make our people strong and self-respecting, strong enough to make our own policies. Strong enough to be a truly democratic independent nation standing on own feet undictated by others. Strong enough not to be bullied by other states. 

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