MANILA, Philippines – Amid heightened tensions in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) disputes, a state-owned Chinese news agency has called the Philippines a
“trouble maker in the region,” and warned the country against losing its “credibility” if “Manila insists on playing more tricks.”
In an editorial entitled “Manila’s miscalculation” published on Wednesday, the China Daily hit Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario for saying that the Philippines would support Japan dropping its pacifist constitution to become a fully-fledged military force and act as a balance against a rising China, saying that the statements bared “Manila’s attempt to enlist support for its disputes with China.”
“As a smaller country, it has resorted to opportunism to balance the big powers. However, if it goes too far, it will have to shoulder the consequences,” the editorial read.
“History shows us small countries tend to get the worse of it if they seek to hijack regional peace and stability as a bargaining chip. If Manila insists on playing more tricks in this regard, sooner or later it will have to pay a dear price and lose its own credibility in the region,” it added.
Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez, when pressed for comments, questioned why the Philippines was being called the trouble-maker, saying that the recent actions of China in relation to its nine-dash sea claims have raised concerns for the international community.
Hernandez said that such actions were inconsistent with international laws, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and impede the fundamental freedom of navigation and lawful commerce.
In an interview with London’s Financial Times, Del Rosario said the Philippines would strongly support a rearmed Japan—its World War II enemy—as a counterweight to what it sees as Chinese provocation.
China claims nearly the entire West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), believed to be rich in oil and gas resources, while the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam, have overlapping claims to some or all of those same areas.