Forget America, PH future bound with China

**Altis6453** · November 21st, 2012 06:09 PM

Somebody has a serious crush on the PRC...

Author: Forget America, future of PH bound with China
By David Dizon, ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 11/21/2012 11:32 AM | Updated as of 11/21/2012 12:27 PM

MANILA, Philippines – British author Dr. Martin Jacques believes it is high time for the Philippines to stop acting like a proxy for the United States and resolve its sea dispute with China by recognizing the importance of its relationship with the civilization state.

Speaking to ANC’s Headstart, Jacques said the Western-centric mentality of the Philippines after 50 years of American colonization means that the country is “behind the curve” when it comes to recognizing the importance of trade in China.

“The Philippines must recognize which way the world is moving and what is happening to their own region. They need the big picture, not starting with the little picture which is some rocky islands. You can't start thinking about the future of the Philippines in those terms because this region is being absolutely transformed in a remarkably short space of time by the rise of China. To be frank with you, historically speaking, forget about America in this region. It is in decline. It is in rampant decline,” he told Headstart host Karen Davila.

He added: “The future of this region for the indefinite future is going to be more and more bound up with China. Therefore the critical relationship not just for the Philippines but for Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea and even Japan in the longer run is China.”

Jacques is the author of the bestselling book "When China Rules The World: The End Of The Western World And The Birth Of A New Global Order.”

In the interview, Jacques noted that China does not have a history of overseas, maritime-based colonization, preferring instead to expand its reach westward in its own continent.

He also noted that the Chinese regarded themselves as the center of civilization and often looked down on other peoples.

The author said China has a very sophisticated culture with an extremely advanced form of governance, making it one of the most competent states in the world.

Dispute over Panatag shoal

In the interview, Jacques said he believes the Philippines can resolve its ongoing territorial dispute with China over the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea without involving the US.

The author said he does not believe the Philippines should abandon its territorial claim over the Panatag Shoal, noting that he is agnostic about whose claim is more legitimate.
“It’s a difficult problem but not an impossible problem to sort out. The argument over the island should not be allowed to derail the relationship with China, to poison the relationship and to sabotage the relationship. That is so shortsighted. That is so backward looking. That is so regressive. The Philippines has got to find a way of handling the island question in the context of engaging with China,” he said.

“It is perfectly possible to reach a settlement with China on the island. There’s not going to be a war over the island. The East China Sea and Japan is an entirely different question, there will not be a war in the South China Sea over these islands with any of the claimants,” he added.

Jacques said it is not surprising that the Philippines “feels itself to be almost a proxy for the United States” in the Americans’ pivot towards Asia.

“What the Philippines shouldn’t do and I think it is sorely tempted to do and if I may say so, being a little bit down that road, is to think, ‘Well, we can sort out the Chinese with our American allies. Anyway, they’re encouraging us to be a little bit vocal about this question.’ I’m afraid that has happened. What’s happened is the relationship with China has deteriorated and the Philippines is in a way been a bit of a stalking horse for the American pivot in the region and I don’t think this is good news for the country. If what I am saying is true, in that the future of this region is China, they are making the wrong point in asking the wrong question. The question is not how can we have an argument with China, but how can we get on with China?”

So, he wants the PH to get along with a nation which looks at itself as the center of civilization and "often looks down on others"?

**Ry_Tower** · November 21st, 2012 06:17 PM

^ I think what he means is the rest of asia should play (blindly) along with big daddy.

**jonski** · November 21st, 2012 06:28 PM

Ilan kaya binayad sakanya?

**niky** · November 21st, 2012 07:04 PM

Let's play ball with China, because they're going to rule the world.

Is that before or after the upcoming Chinese domestic-consumption slowdown and possible recession?

**Monseratto** · November 21st, 2012 07:56 PM

Pinahiya ni Obama...

PHNOM PENH - US President Barack Obama on Tuesday defied Chinese protests and raised concerns at a summit about territorial disputes that have sent diplomatic and trade shockwaves across the region.

Obama weighed into the debate over China's sweeping claims to the South China Sea, which have rattled less powerful Southeast Asian countries, as well as a separate rift between Beijing and Tokyo over islands in the East China Sea.

"I think President Obama's message is there needs to be a reduction of the tensions... to ensure that these types of disputes don't risk escalation," Ben Rhodes, a senior aide to the president, told reporters.

In response to concerns raised by Obama and other leaders at the 18-nation East Asia Summit in Cambodia, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao issued a stern admonishment of China's critics and a strong defence of his country's claims.

"We do not want to bring the disputes to an occasion like this," Wen told Obama and the other leaders in one of the final sessions of the two-day event, according to Chinese vice foreign minister Fu Ying.

"China's act of defending its sovereignty is necessary and legitimate... and we have properly handled the incidents that were not of the making of China."

**yebo** · November 21st, 2012 09:27 PM

british yan e, para naman di natin kilala ang lahi ng mga yan. puro highest bidder lang lahat yang mga yan. para din sa rig, kung sino pinakamagaling sumipsep siya maganda evaluation. yung ugali nila nuon na mga "colonizers" pa sila yun pa din ugali nila hangang ngayon. pag intsik, pana o itim na mahihilig humagod ng burat ng brit e naku naman laging abot hangang langit ang papuri. pag nakatagpo naman ng pilipino na lahi ng namumugot ng ulo ng dayuhan e bad shot lagi ang pinoy.

parang discovery channel, halatang bayaran. yung discovery channel e pati america e china daw ang naka-discover. lahat na lang e china nauna, china nag-discover, china nag-imbento. kulang na lang sabihin na chinese si God e.

**Monseratto** · November 21st, 2012 09:51 PM

Madali ma impress mga puti sa progress ng China. Punta ka lang cities at tignan mo yung progress compared 10 years ago. Di nila nakikita yung sa probinsya. toilet nila nakabaon pa sa lupa...