It’s time to take a stand

First, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan, igniting howls of protest from Beijing because for the Chinese that visit contradicts the “One-China Policy” long upheld by many countries after the United Nations recognized Beijing and not Taipei as the legitimate government for China.

Tensions between the US and China went high as China conducted live-fire drills along the Taiwan Strait during Pelosi’s visit, raising alarm among ASEAN member-countries.

Diplomacy prevailed – as against the prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine – one small mistake could have triggered another armed and costly conflict near our own shores. Costly because of the steep economic recovery we must struggle due to high fuel prices amidst a potentially new pandemic – monkey pox.

Second came the visit to the Philippines of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken who used the usual vague diplomatic jargon to cover up the purpose of the visit.

However they mask the BBM-Blinken talks, the US needs to prepare for war with China. They need access to facilities at the former US military bases in Clark and Subic. They need a refueling base for their ships and fighter jets.

The US only needs to declare war against China and the RP-US Defense Treaty kicks in. No amount of protests can stop that.

We do not need to choose sides. Former president Digong Duterte chose China over the US during his term. Now that he is gone, China does not see an ally in President Bongbong Marcos.

But the Philippines does not have to take sides. Pres. Bongbong clearly enunciated his foreign policy in his first SONA – “We will be friends to everyone, an enemy to no one.”

How does he intend to enforce that policy when the existing claim of China over all of the West Philippine Sea remains unresolved?

International commercial vessels have to tiptoe when passing through the West Philippine Sea unless they are blown out of the water by Chinese Coast Guard who have direct instructions to preserve the integrity of their sovereignty.

Clearly, unimpeded passage by air or water through the disputed seas is hampered by China’s firm belief those waters are theirs.

The international community is not doing enough to preserve peace in the West Philippine Sea. Only when actual war erupts will they condemn China.

The US protecting Taiwan or the Philippines is called interference by Beijing. Taiwan is still considered a renegade province of China.

And China’s para-military ships stationed throughout the West Philippine Sea are preventing Filipino fishermen from their livelihood.

Will Malacanang turn a blind eye on the problem as Duterte did?

Now is the perfect time to test the argument that insisting on our rights to the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) will not lead to war with China. Malaysia and Vietnam have claimed their EEZs against Chinese vessel encroachment and no war erupted. It’s time to take a stand.