If the Chinese Communist Party weren’t such a monster, this would be funny: “In media commentary, China urges Philippines to work with Beijing on ties” (Reuters, September 9, 2024).
As we just recalled, China just tried that on the Philippines a couple of months ago. Didn’t work out too well, because China wasn’t interested in “working with” the Philippines, only in imposing its will on the Philippines.
China called on the Philippines to “seriously consider the future” of a relationship “at a crossroads” in commentary published Monday by the People’s Daily, the newspaper of the governing Communist Party, amid tensions in the South China Sea.
The Philippines and China have exchanged accusations of intentionally ramming coast guard vessels in the disputed waterway in recent months, including a violent clash in June in which a Filipino sailor lost a finger.
The incidents have overshadowed efforts by both nations to rebuild trust and better manage confrontations, including setting up new lines of communication to improve handling maritime disputes.
Cut it out, Reuters! I’ve heard this “rebuild trust” lingo before, it’s a cut-and-paste job, and it is not made more plausible by repetition. And what does “better manage confrontations” mean? China rams a Philippine vessel. China sprays a Philippine vessel with a water cannon. China does this. China does that.
How does one “better manage” these confrontations? Is China supposed to yell in advance, “Hey, get out of the way, we’re about to attack you!”? That’s not part of the etiquette of gray-zoning.
People’s Daily: “China-Philippines relations stand at a crossroads, facing a choice of which way to go. Dialogue and consultation is the right path, as there is no way out of the conflict through confrontation.”
What is the Philippines supposed to say to this? “Oh my God! Really? Let’s do it! Let’s have another pretend, fake, phony, meaningless agreement that the Chinese government immediately lies about and breaks!”
