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South China Sea: what do Filipinos think about the Manila-Beijing row?
- Beijing’s actions have grown more aggressive, Filipinos say, amid concerns for regional stability and fishermen’s livelihoods
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Escalating conflict between the Philippines and China amid Manila’s increasingly hardened stance in defending its maritime territorial claims have sparked concerns among Filipinos, but some have mixed views on their leaders’ responses.
A June 17 clash between the Philippine navy and Chinese coastguard, in which one Filipino crewman lost his thumb, marked a pivotal point in already strained ties, according to observers, who also say Beijing’s actions in the disputed waters have grown more aggressive as it employs the breadth of “grey-zone tactics” that fall just short of crossing the threshold for armed conflict.
Filipinos who spoke to This Week in Asia seemed to agree with this assessment. China’s continuous build-up of its military capabilities and its increasingly assertive stance in the West Philippine Sea – Manila’s term for the parts of the South China Sea it claims – point to a worsening scenario, according to Ariane Tancioco, an independent sales and marketing consultant.
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“China’s continuous military build-up and aggressive manoeuvres in the West Philippine Sea increase tensions and make diplomatic resolutions more difficult. The Philippines needs to stand firm and seek international support to counter these actions,” he said.
Tancioco said the clash between the Chinese coastguard and Philippine sailors was infuriating, while also expressing hopelessness about the Philippine military’s capabilities.
The skirmish could set a precedent and eventually lead to the death of a Filipino that would be considered an act of war, said Anton Hipolito, a software engineer.
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