Manila risks paying high price for brinkmanship fueled by Washington

As a small country, the Philippines has obviously had its head turned by the attention it has received from the United States, which is intent on usurping the Southeast Asian country’s maritime disputes with China as a means to advance its “Indo-Pacific” strategy to contain China.

The Philippines’ collusion with the US is not only raising tensions in the waters but it is also greatly heightening the risk of it careening into a head-on confrontation with China.

Showing the extent to which Manila is now under Washington’s wing, the Philippines and the US are conducting three days of joint air patrols in the South China Sea this week. Given tensions are already high, thanks to Manila’s recent incursive showboating in waters around Ren’ai Reef and Huangyan Island, this latest provocation is a clear goading of Beijing.

As is its wont in the face of such skylarking, Beijing is responding like-for-like. The Southern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army has organized naval and air force operations to closely monitor the actions of the stunt duo, according to a statement issued by the command on Monday.

This is not the first time Manila has engaged in joint sea and air patrols near disputed waters in the South China Sea with the militaries of countries from outside the region. Apart from such acts of braced bravado, Manila has also ramped up its provoking of China by repeatedly sending supplies to reinforce the disintegrating warship it deliberately grounded on Ren’ai Reef in 1999 and is making waves by intruding into Chinese waters around Huangyan Island.

Egged on by Washington, which is happy for it to play the stooge, Manila should not misjudge the situation and go too far along what is a dangerous road. The PLA will maintain a high degree of vigilance to resolutely defend national territorial integrity and maritime rights, and firmly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Thanks to the mutual efforts from China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the situation in the South China Sea has been largely calmed and stabilized in recent years. This has helped to nourish a conducive development environment for countries in the region, including the Philippines.

Manila should know the US is readily using it to sabotage peace and stability in the waters in its efforts to stymie China’s development.

By playing along with the US’ self-centered capers, Manila is harming the interests of all countries in the region, including those of the Philippines.

It is high time Manila stopped dancing with trouble. It risks paying a high price for its brinkmanship in the South China Sea if it continues to cavort under Washington’s baton.

It should honor its word and de-escalate the situation in the South China Sea and do more to safeguard regional peace and stability, which would be to the benefit of all in the region.