Manila's double-dealing won't work

This is an editorial from China Daily.

When the China Coast Guard began conducting routine law enforcement training in the jurisdictional waters adjacent to China's Huangyan Island recently, it issued maritime safety information in advance in accordance with the law. Despite that, the Philippines dispatched multiple vessels into the training zone under the pretense of "fishing" with reporters on board broadcasting live.

CCG spokesman Liu Dejun on Wednesday called on the Philippines to immediately cease its provocative actions and smear campaigns, and said that the CCG will continue to carry out its operations in the waters, resolutely safeguarding national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

The People's Liberation Army also separately expelled Philippine aircraft that had illegally intruded into China's territorial airspace over Huangyan Island and over the waters adjacent to the Meiji Reef of China's Nansha Islands.

The Philippines now finds itself at a crossroads in its relationship with China. On the one hand, it seeks cooperation with Beijing on crucial trade issues such as fertilizer supply amid global shortages caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. On the other hand, it continues to provoke China in the South China Sea, at the behest of external forces. This double-handed approach is not only damaging bilateral relations, but also undermining the Philippines' credibility.

China has been a responsible neighbor to the Philippines, particularly in times of difficulty. Amid a global shortage of chemical fertilizers, China has assured the Philippines, as well as other regional countries, of continued fertilizer exports, which are a critical need for their agricultural sector. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, in an interview on Tuesday, thanked China for its timely assistance. "They've been very helpful with fertilizers," he said.

That underscores China's role as a stabilizing force in the region. By providing much-needed resources, China is demonstrating its commitment to supporting its neighbors in times of need, including those that it has maritime disputes with.

However, the Philippines' provocations in the South China Sea contradict the "appreciative" chord Marcos struck. They belie Manila's hypocrisy and risk further escalating tensions in a region already fraught with geopolitical complexities. According to media reports, Japan's Self-Defense Forces will join an upcoming annual US-Philippines military exercise, marking the first time Japanese combat troops land on the Philippines soil since World War II. This suggests an alignment against China in the Asia-Pacific with the Philippines pushed to do the dirty work on the front.

Manila's scheme is shortsighted. By aligning itself with Washington's geopolitical agenda, it risks undermining regional stability and cooperation, and its losses will far outweigh any fleeting gains. The only reason it has not yet felt the full consequences is that China continues to exercise strategic restraint in the face of its provocations — a reality Marcos is well aware of, yet dares not acknowledge, for fear of being exposed as a speculator attempting to play both sides.

The recent energy crisis should serve as a catalyst for the Philippines to reassess its foreign policy priorities and adopt a more balanced approach. Upholding the principles enshrined in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and striving for a mutually agreed Code of Conduct in the region represent the sensible path forward. Dialogue and cooperation ought to be the guiding principles of Manila's policy.

The ASEAN-China Senior Officials' Meeting on the DOC in the South China Sea, held in January, highlighted the importance of maintaining dialogue and cooperation to safeguard maritime stability. Manila should heed this consensus and align its actions accordingly, recognizing that its provocations could destabilize the entire region.

Manila cannot expect to reap the benefits of economic cooperation with Beijing while simultaneously undermining China's territorial sovereignty. No country would ever tolerate another country biting its hand when it is trying to help feed it.