Many appear to have lost their perspective on the issue of the Chinese presence around Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal. As we have mentioned before, the Philippines should deescalate tensions in the West Philippine Sea. We should explore avenues of cooperation with the Chinese, not confrontation.
Regretfully, though, the “hawks” seem to be lording over policies. Moves have been initiated to seek US assistance to help the Philippine modernize its military, particularly the Navy, as a response to the Chinese “threat.” That is a mistake, not to mention foolish.
First of all, the Philippines needs a modern military – and more ships and aircraft – whether there is a Chinese threat or not. The need for military modernization should be decoupled from the issue of disputed territories.
Second, the weather will prove to be a more potent deterrent to any naval presence in the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal – be it from China, the Philippines, or even Vietnam. Remember that the shoal is really just rocks protruding from the sea. Plus, that area sits smack in the middle of typhoon alley.
We doubt that dispatching more warships to Panatag will send the Chinese away from that area. But we are fairly certain that typhoons will do the job. If typhoons fail to send Chinese ships away from Scarborough, the rising sea levels caused by global warming will sink the shoal. The rest of the Philippines, not to mention China and others, will also be adversely affected, of course. Both are poised to be casualties of war in the fight against global warming.
The point is that we should be wise. We should be patient. And, we should be thankful that Mother Nature’s fury is coming soon. — Excerpts from Manila Times editorial