A more ‘nuanced’ approach to our China dispute

By Rigoberto Tiglao

China’s driving away of two Philippine boats last week is another indication that our territorial dispute with Asia’s emerging superpower will dog us not just for decades, but even, I would think, in the lifetimes of the next generation.

Read on…

Comments

  1. The premise for the solution is wrong, that bilateral dialogue with China – which is what China wants for a reason – has any kind of beneficial outcome to the Philippines. It is a recipe for ceding very valuable property to China, property which China has zero claim to. It is akin to trying to negotiate with a thief who has already entered your home. The peaceful, law-based ITLOS path chosen by President Aquino is roundly acclaimed by other nations, which suggests this article is out of step. The Philippines finally has taken a leadership position in Asia, and the article writer want to undermine it.

    Well, too, we can consider the editorial slant of the subject rag in which the piece ran.

    • Batang-genyo, Ala-eh

      Hi! Joe,..I liked that phrase “article writer want to undermine it”. Mr R.Tiglao’s has been known to be leftist leaning journalist & student activist before joining the govt. So, it is expected that he will be on the side of China when issues like this comes up. Obviously,I believe he has become an embeded-forward spokesman for anti-american foreign policy specially when it involves USA-RP relationship.
      btw, several decades ago former ambassador and UP President Salvador P. Lopez, If i remember right, has wrote and advised our leaders and the people that we should stop hiding under the apron of US security mantle and that the special relations between US and RP is a political myth. I subscribe to this myth since our Big Brother relationship is not a Mutually beneficial ties but for all practical purposes one that operates under the Self-interest where the more powerful becomes the dominant winner in the end-game. Still, I appreciate what this Pinoy administration is doing for a military preparedness with US cooperation and legal support at UN.

      • I appreciate the background you have provided on the writer. That makes his viewpoint understandable. It is not objective.

        Yes, large states do tend to push their way around, and the US is no exception. The US thinks with her commercial interests first, rather than land acquisition. China seems to have a dual thrust to her interests. It seems to me that the Philippines should operate with her interests first, expect no gifts, and place no halo around any other state. It looks like that is what is being done now.

        • Batang-genyo, Ala-eh

          btw., as a p.s., history is on our side and no matter what China claims, our territorial boundaries are permanent, unless there is a forcible occupation.