Philippines needs to better manage ties with US, China

Afront- burner foreign policy concern in the Philippines is the reawakening of China and the role filipinos expect the united States to play in defending this country against foreign aggression. naturally, the concern over China stems from the disputed- territories issue in the West Philippine Sea, where the uS has vowed to safeguard freedom of navigation. And under the watch of President Donald trump, Washington has given its strongest assurances yet to the Philippines with which the united States has a mutual defense treaty.

As we have said in this space before, it would be simplistic, not to mention perilous, to portray China as an enemy and the uS as a committed protector. both will behave according to their respective interests, and so should we. the famous American statesman, Dr. Henry Kissinger, said, “America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests.” China most probably thinks similarly.

those in the Duterte government, who have unshakable faith in the assurances of the uS, should read the latest issue of the Atlantic, which reported that Mr. trump had allegedly called American soldiers who died in war as “losers” and “suckers.” He was referring in part to uS Marines who tried to stop the German advance to Paris during World War 1. If the uS president can feel like that toward france, which came to America’s rescue during its war of independence from britain, what might he think of those who could be called on to defend the Philippines against China?

During Mr. trump’s time in the White House, America’s relations with europe, particularly its nAto or north Atlantic treaty organization allies, have fallen dramatically. over the years, he has questioned why Americans should shoulder much of the cost of defending europe.

the Philippines should be mindful of the uS foreign policy in the West. It may be even worth asking whether America’s commitments here will hold if and when they become costly or burdensome for Mr. trump or whoever may be in the White House.

of course, Philippine- uS relations run deep. for many filipinos, Americans are family.

the same may be said of the Chinese though. Many filipinos have Chinese blood; not to mention Chinese surnames. relations between those in the mainland and the natives of our islands predate the Spanish colonial period. An evidence of this is a memorial for Paduka Pahala in China. He was one of the three Sulu sultans, who visited beijing in 1417, but he died in the mainland on his journey home.

not all Americans are as hostile to China as President trump, and policymakers here should also take that into account in forming their own mind. referring to the ongoing uS- China trade war, American economist and syndicated opinion writer Jeffrey Sachs has been saying that China is not an enemy.

In an interview last month with CnbC, Sachs said, “It’s completely misconceived and misguided, but a lot of Americans want to put it to China and think that we run the show, which is a very dangerous view of thinking.”

He added, “What people say about China is, to put it plainly, stupid. People who don’t know, who have this weird image of this totalitarian monster out to take over the world… that is lazy but not completely atypical American thinking in the past. China is not out to take over the world. China is not out to do all these terrible things. China wants to have a normal, decent life; like Americans want to have.”

regrettably, that type of “lazy” thinking seems pervasive among filipinos. Yes, the Philippines has issues with China, but our disputes need not dictate the tone of our relations. We should continue our dialogue with China; even as we assert our rights and work out our differences.

We should focus on facts. China is the rising power, and for now, the uS is the dominant economic and military force in the world. both should be our friends because that serves our interests. Choosing one over the other would be like stoking the fire that can hurt us and perhaps the rest of the world.