Manila must balance trade with sovereignty

MANILA TIMES FORUM: In its dealings with China, the Philippines will have to cautiously strike a balance between asserting its sovereign claim over parts of the West Philippine Sea and keeping Chinese investments, according to Stratfor analyst Rodger Baker.

Picking a fight with China over maritime issues will certainly have huge economic consequences on the Philippines, said Baker, vice president for East Asia and Pacific of the US think tank Stratfor Global Intelligence.