China's road to isolation

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The Permanent Court of Arbitration has ruled that it has jurisdiction over the issue of the fate of the disputed islands in the South China Sea. China has refused to participate in this peaceful means of resolving disputes. In effect it does not recognize this court.

The refusal of China to present its case, its claims over the islands weakens its position before the eyes of the international community. Whether its case is weak and indefensible or that China has become arrogant because of its economic power that will have impact in the world. With wealth China has bolstered its defense and aggressive military capacities that is clearly intended to cow other nations like the Philippines that cannot match its military strength.

China has become an international bully. It has been emboldened by its occupation of peaceful Tibet. In the case of that country, China has also refused to heed international demands for it to leave Tibet whose only strength is spiritual and love for peace.

There is a quantum of evidence to prove that the Spratly Islands belong to the Philippines. A recent document presented the Washington Treaty that says the Spratlys as part of the Philippines and so recognized by the United States and China itself. That treaty considered these islands as part of the Philippines when the country was ceded to the United States by Spain in the Treaty of Paris of 1898. The Washington Treaty clearly shows that this area was part of the islands ceded to the US.

The intransigence of China has created a backlash in the Philippines and will isolate China from Filipinos and other countries.

A group called “Hukbalatsin” is engaged in an effort to make Filipinos dislike China. This is an acronym for “Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Tsina” modeled from the campaign against Japanese occupation during World War II. The Filipinos then organized the “Hukbong Bayan Laban saHapon” (Hukbalahap) which was effective in guerrilla war and anti-Japanese propaganda.

China should stop being a bully. It would be unfortunate if the “hate China” campaign gains ground and innocent Chinese in the Philippines will be adversely affected.

China has large investments in the Philippines; Filipinos have no stakes in China except the Chinese mestizos.*