Giving China a wide berth

The presence of a flotilla of Chinese fishing ships on the Ayungin Shoals is clearly an affront to Philippine sovereignty. And the fact that these poachers are escorted by warships indicate that China has no respect whatsoever for another country’s borders.

The United States, with whom we regularly hold military exercises, is a friend. Or so that country tells us time and again, but so far all we get is assurance of friendship, mutuality of interests, and such platitudes. Nothing of the sort that will lead us to believe it will come to our defense if push comes to shove, and by shove we mean China firing and sinking vessels that belong to what we laughably calls the Philippine Navy.