Philippines: An adroit Non-Entity

[asianobserve]

The humbling of China in the latest ASEAN summit has displayed the exceptional diplomatic (with little military) abilities of an Asian non-entity, the Philippines. It leveraged its MDT with the US and formed new (looser) alliances with Vietnam.

 

[Ray]

The Bewitching hour beckons for China?

Is that what you mean?

Those who are observing China would be on their guard since China does not backdown so easily and so calmly,

There is sure to be some method in their madness in backing down so calmly and like a domesticated cat slurping a plateful of milk in front of a cosy fire!

 

[Ray]

Apparently Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and others find it is the last straw that broke the camel's back and have 'ganged up' against their powerful neighbour.

It might not auger well for them since China never forgets a slight.

So long as the US patrols the waters, it is fine.

But China is working overtime to overhaul the US!

She is hard at having their Blue Water Navy with CGs romping the Oceans in direct challenge to the US!

 

[asianobserve]

Well see if China will accept the Spratlys Protocol. In the meantime the brave diplomatic (with limited military) initiatives of the Philippines and Vietnam are giving bpth countries enough time to rearm (at least sufficient for deterrence) and solidify security arrangements with neighbors and the US. Had China been more calculating and careful it should have silently cornered these smaller countries before it delivered the coup de grace. Fortunately for these smaller countries, China is a drunk nouveau riche that swaggered ist way into the Spratlys issue (if you ask me a case of historic diplomatic clumsiness).

 

[Ray]

Yes the Chinese sudden belligerency is most surprising.

They are a cold, calculating cookies.

To make such a mess is extraordinary.

Or is there something that the world has missed?

Maybe!

 

[asianobserve]

Apparently Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and others find it is the last straw that broke the camel's back and have 'ganged up' against their powerful neighbour.

It might not auger well for them since China never forgets a slight.

So long as the US patrols the waters, it is fine.

But China is working overtime to overhaul the US!

She is hard at having their Blue Water Navy with CGs romping the Oceans in direct challenge to the US!

Neither are these smaller countries going to sleep on their laurels. After the arrogantly naked display of Chinese mascularism these countries are already sufficiently notified of the ugly intentions of China. These countries are no longer going to be lax in their defenses and are now n a historic rearmament efforts. Although not a single of them can attain military parity with China (let's face it these countries are puny individually) they can nonetheless provide sufficient deterrence and given the developing military allainces between them and the traingulation with Japan and the US, these countries are going to punch above their weights. It must not be overlooked also that the ASEAN countries have some of the most vibrant developing economies in Asia.

 

[Ray]

But the Chinese claim the ASEAN folks are their friends and closest to their hearts and interests.

Even our Chinese posters parrot the same!

 

[asianobserve]

This is a case of bad advertisement. Rule number one in product marketing is that the product (or message) must be truthfull or at least convincingly truthful. China on the other hand showed two-faces (the most prominent being the uglier one) in the process nullifying the message it was selling to the ASEAN. It couldn't wait for the advertisement to take hold before it revealed its real intentions.

ASEAN countries historically are averse to overly aggressive Asian powers. The last World War taught them painful lessons on trust and readiness. Although China is not Imperial Japan yet it is showing the same path, albeit at a gentler level but without mistaking its real motivation (territory and resources).

 

[Ray]

This is a case of bad advertisement. Rule number one in product marketing is that the product (or message) must be truthfull or at least convincingly truthful. China on the other hand showed two-faces (the most prominent being the uglier one) in the process nullifying the message it was selling to the ASEAN. It couldn't wait for the advertisement to take hold before it revealed its real intentions.

ASEAN countries historically are averse to overly aggressive Asian powers. The last World War taught them painful lessons on trust and readiness. Although China is not Imperial Japan yet it is showing the same path, albeit at a gentler level but without mistaking its real motivation (territory and resources).

Your post proves the point that the Chinese vehemently deny - that they are closeted imperialists!

Their bullying attitude is also historical. They make all kowtow into submission as they did to make their Empire by bullying, humiliating and so on the 'outer people' and even classifying them as 'barbarians'.

All said and done, they know how to make people join them and then tell them to say 'thank you' for all the bullying and humiliation they have done!

 

[asianobserve]

The Chinese is not a traditional imperialist. But it wants resources and territorial control and will grab through intimidation if necessary.