The case for restoring bilateral talks with China

The Philippines’ branding of China as a bully and attempt to maneuver the US into backing our claims has only inflamed China. The US will neither seize nor defend the Spratlys for us, and its position on the interpretation of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) on this issue has been consistent since Kissinger’s interpretation in 1975. Indeed, the treaty was signed two decades before the Philippines first made its claim to the islands; therefore, in the eyes of the US, the Spratlys are not covered in the MDT as part of our sovereign territory and its official position on territorial disputes is neutral, as recently reaffirmed in the US State Department’s Limits in the Seas No. 143 publication.

Lack of bilateral engagement, unnecessarily provocative posturing of the Philippine President and increased military cooperation between the US and the Philippines gave Manila the opportunity to challenge China to prove its power in the Asia-Pacific region vis-à-vis Washington. But in so doing, Manila enabled Beijing to turn its row with the Philippines into a contest that it could win easily. Therefore, it is in the Philippines’ interest to defuse the US-China contest as it relates to the Spratlys and to tone down the nationalistic and aggressive rhetoric, in order to secure peace and maximal strategic dividends. Indeed, under the aggressive approach of President Aquino, Chinese expansion has accelerated, and Filipino fishermen have less access to fishing grounds and suffer increased harassment by Chinese warships.