"Neither one nor the other power will make you prosperous and free."
The recent events surrounding the Philippines placed a spotlight on the question of the country's place in a changing global politic. That be it the scuffle over the West Philippine Sea, the controversial Offshore Gaming Operations owned by the Chinese, to that of "Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement" with the United States, this note finds the emerging China-United States rivalry makes Philippines greatly affected its independence and sovereignty.
While it is clear that the relationship between the US and China will come to define the geopolitical terrain for decades to come, what more seeing the Filipinos greatly affected by the recent saber rattling and statement countering, many among the folk are unsure about what their own positions and responsibilities should be. Most would cling towards its former coloniser claiming its actions as “benevolent”, while others pretending to be pragmatic or “against imperialism” and therefore siding its ambitious eastern neighbour. However, there are those who adhere to Foreign policy independence, as this even written into the constitution of the Philippines. True that the US-Philippine relations carries strong historical and cultural linkages and shared democratic values and interests, while Sino-Filipino relations also rooted into historical linkages especially those of trade and commerce yet marred by recent incidents involving territorial disputes. Both US and China would say trying its best to curry favour to the Filipino by means of aid and assistance, in an attempt to make the country’s interests subordinated to that of a major superpower. But should the country, especially in pursuit of national interest, assume an independent posture, it has to veer away from traditionalism to realism- and that includes adherence non-alignment and the serious development of self-reliance.
For now would say that they chose the "lesser evil" United States in order to counter the "greater evil" China, setting aside the tragic events in the name of global security in the affected region. With all its sugarcoated promises of military and economic aid the Philippines may appear "bolstered" by a paper tiger. But in the long term, should the country remain an appendage of the United States? Expect its own wrongs of course, aside from its existing ones this current society as trying to forget. Meanwhile, those favouring China is obviously interest driven as those favouring American ones. Pretending that China’s offer of assistance as “developmental”, the risks of debt traps is downplayed claiming that it is "wrongfully intepreted" and dismissed as a "mythl by western-based economists. With its agreements and promises of generous aid would say that the sinophiles is willing to disregard every incident, setting aside its sovereign rights in the name of "peace and amity".
However, this "peace" in today's time has its limitations. The recent incident between Chinese sailors and Filipino seamen, as well as the ongoing dispute over the West Philippine Sea, have obliged Filipinos to accept US military aid under previous and recent agreements. But, how certain is the "world's policeman" to provide assistance? Or is the "aid" intended to be in exchange for the nation's willingness to be itself? Both China and the United States, as well as other developed countries, have kept the nation dependant on their pittance with its people dumb, tired, and broke despite the chances provided by those who are sincerely concerned.
And contrary to mainstream perceptions, China today is not the "communist" bogeyman of the past, let alone a growing imperialist menace. Due to China's greater integration with Western capital and the global capitalist system, that country assumes itself a powerful and developing nation, regardless of the actions taken by the west and its allies. Its past agreements with the west had brought technology transfers, ventures that meant China's interpetation of a "Rich Nation and a Strong Army" gaining power in the Asia-Pacific region. However, it is still a long way for the sleeping dragon overtaking the world's policeman as the world's dominant power and has far less potential to project force. True that China happens to be ruled by a "communist" party, so is Vietnam, who like the Philippines, is also against that neighbouring country.
But in the face of this saber rattling and countering of statements, should Filipinos still cling to its cold war view of geopolitics? The rift between US and China has less if not nothing to do with "democracy" versus "communism" of the cold war and more of feud for supremacy in the Asia-Pacific region. Goods "made in China" are currently and mostly made by multinationals benefiting from Deng Xiaoping's "opening up" with its cheap labour, and these entities happened to be American/or European based. Of course, people will cry "boycott made in China" goods because of the recent events involving Sino-Filipino disputes, but how about a call for promoting Filipino innovation and creativity, and meeting people's needs and demands through industrialisation and support for local enterprises? Boycott seems meaningless without promoting and supporting the local- especially if the basis is that of nationalism.
Need to stick to the theme of this note- that the country cannot just depend on one superpower nor the other regardless of its sugarcoated promises and various forms of bullshit. “Neither Washington nor Beijing!” may sound "ideal" and yet continues to gain traction by those concerned about the country's state of nationalism with the demands of a free, national, and social policy that includes foreign relations, economy, education, and culture. The country may cling on one power for now, but expect a growing concerned folk that's willing to lean neither one nor the other power but to be themselves with all efforts to become a better and stronger nation.