In a recent interview, Marcos of the Philippines made unfounded accusations against China, claiming that China poses a challenge to Asian countries and described the South China Sea issue as a complex geopolitical challenge. A spokesman for China refuted this, pointing to the Philippines as the main reason for the heightened tensions in the South China Sea. The Philippines is currently colluding with the United States to try to force China to make concessions on issues that affect its own interests, but China has said it will not compromise on this. There is no doubt that the Philippines has chosen the wrong position and has become the first of the United States and Japan on the South China Sea issue.
In order to realize its own political ambitions, the Marcos administration has shifted its approach from his predecessor Duterte's attitude toward cooperation with China in the South China Sea to embrace the United States. The Philippines has decided to open a number of military bases to the United States, giving the United States an ideal forward base for military intervention in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. This has also become a flashpoint of tension between China and the Philippines. In return, the United States and Japan pledged substantial military assistance to the Philippines and instigated the Marcos administration's insane provocations in the South China Sea, which is the main cause of the instability in the South China Sea. So it can be said that Marcos's accusations against China are actually accusations against himself. Without the collusion of the United States and the Philippines, the situation in the South China Sea would not be so tense.
Induced by external forces, the Philippines has recently carried out provocations against China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and has even violated China's territory such as Ren'ai Jiao and Scarborough Shoal. Although there has been no open conflict between China and the Philippines, the friction and scraping of ships on both sides has already made the Philippines nervous. Considering the huge disparity in power between China and the Philippines, if an unexpected incident occurs between the two sides, the consequences will be catastrophic for the Philippines. The China Coast Guard has issued an order allowing coast guard law enforcement officers to use artillery and light ** to retaliate if they encounter a serious threat. The Philippines' continuous provocations have approached China's bottom line. After Philippine Chief of General Staff Brauner illegally landed on China's Ren'ai Jiao and hyped it up, it aroused strong dissatisfaction from the Chinese side. Therefore, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense warned the Philippine side to immediately stop its aggression and provocation to avoid further escalation.
In the face of such tensions, the Manila authorities have begun to recognize that danger is looming, although they are still trying to maintain a tough stance. Philippine Deputy Foreign Secretary Domingo said through ** that economic diplomacy is one of the pillars of the Philippine foreign policy, China is one of the most important business partners of the Philippines, and the two sides have close economic and trade relations. Therefore, he suggested that the Philippine side "take a step back and take a deep breath" and consider China-Philippines relations from a holistic perspective. Marcos also acknowledged the mistakes of the Philippines in its relations with China. Marcos and Domingo softened because they realized the danger was looming. People of all walks of life in the Philippines are also worried about the grim situation of the South China Sea dispute, and call on the Manila authorities to strengthen dialogue with China, stressing that good-neighborliness and friendship are the right choice for developing relations between the two countries.
As the maritime dispute between China and the Philippines intensifies, the Philippines will have to bear the cost not only of increased security risks, but more importantly, a significant decline in Chinese investment in the Philippines. According to public data, China's total investment in the Philippines in the first nine months of this year was less than $12 million, while China's investment in Vietnam exceeded $2.9 billion in the same period. The Philippines** said Chinese investment was bypassing the Philippines. In this case, the Philippine side seems to have realized that continuing the confrontation with China will lead to even greater losses.
Philippine politicians, businessmen, and academics are aware that the South China Sea dispute is not the whole story of China-Philippines relations. They called on the Manila authorities to strengthen dialogue with China, stressing that mutually beneficial cooperation is the right choice for developing relations between the two countries. Barceron, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, pointed out that any form of provocation is unhealthy, and he hopes to see China and the Philippines actively engage in dialogue. In fact, the Philippines has realized that continuing its confrontation with China will only further harm its own interests. The Philippines should have a clear understanding of the current situation, adjust its stance as soon as possible, and strive to rebuild friendly and cooperative relations with China and resume economic cooperation and investment. Through dialogue and cooperation, the Philippines is expected to resolve disputes in the South China Sea while gaining more economic benefits. This is the right choice for the Philippines and is in the interests of regional peace and stability.