Unequivocally in the right

Unequivocally in the right | Daily Tribune

Well, another year is biting the dust, and with it another 365 days of watching China’s increasingly brazen attempts to bully the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

It’s like a geopolitical version of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” except instead of petty squabbles over lip gloss and boyfriends, we have menacing coast guard vessels, aggressive swarming tactic and enough diplomatic gaslighting to power a small city.

One shudders to think what 2025 will bring — perhaps a reality show, “Keeping Up with Xi?”

As 2024 draws to a close, it’s clear that China’s strategy is simple: If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again to claim what isn’t yours. And then try some more, but with bigger boats and more menacing stares.

It’s a playground bully’s tactic, writ large on the high seas. Remember when we thought globalization would usher in an era of peace and understanding? How quaint.

Instead, we have China, flexing its newly acquired economic muscle and seemingly determined to turn the South China Sea into its own private lake. The Philippines, bless its heart, has tried diplomacy. It’s like bringing a bouquet of daisies to a gunfight.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año has had to repeatedly remind Beijing that the Philippines is a sovereign nation, not a vassal state. It’s like having to explain basic human rights to a toddler. “No, China, you cannot just take what you want. It’s called stealing. And it’s not nice.”

China’s recent whining about the Philippines deploying the US-made Typhon missile system is particularly rich. It’s like the arsonist complaining about the fire department.

Beijing accuses Manila of “creating trouble” and “stirring up a regional arms race.” As if ramming Philippine vessels, assaulting them with water cannons, and deploying hundreds of maritime militia boats wasn’t trouble enough. As if building artificial islands bristling with military installations wasn’t an arms race.

China warns the Philippines is “hurting its own interests” by standing up for itself. It’s a classic abuser’s tactic: Blame the victim. “Look what you made me do!” Except in this case, what the Philippines “made” China do is… nothing. Except exist. And refuse to be bullied.

So, what’s our small, peace-loving archipelago to do? Well, for starters, it’s time to double down on self-defense. If China wants to play hardball, the Philippines needs to get a bigger bat. The deployment of the Typhon system is a step in the right direction. It sends a clear message: “We will defend our territory.”

But more than just hardware, the Philippines needs allies. And, thankfully, it has them. The United States, despite its own internal dramas, has consistently affirmed its commitment to the region.

Strengthening alliances with the US, Japan, Australia and other like-minded nations in the Indo-Pacific is not “ganging up,” as China claims. It’s called strategic partnerships. It’s called self-preservation. It’s what you do when you’re facing a bully who doesn’t understand the concept of fair play.

The Philippines’ victory at The Hague in 2016 was monumental. It was a legal and moral triumph. It affirmed what the world already knew: China’s claims to the South China Sea were baseless. But legal victories mean little if they’re not enforced. And that’s where the Philippines’ renewed focus on defense and diplomacy comes in.

In the face of China’s relentless aggression, the Philippines has shown remarkable resilience. It has refused to be intimidated. It has stood up for its rights. Likewise, it has sought the support of its friends.

As 2024 fades into the history books, let’s hope that 2025 brings a little less bluster from Beijing and a little more respect for international law. But if it doesn’t, the Philippines, armed with its newfound resolve and its steadfast allies, will be ready.

We emphasize what any good Filipino knows: You don’t back down from a fight, especially when you’re in the right. And in this case, the Philippines is unequivocally, undeniably, right.