Manila's double game puts peace at risk: China Daily editorial

The contradictory approach the Philippines adopts in its handling of maritime disputes makes one wonder what exactly Manila is hoping to achieve. The recent remarks of Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr serve as the latest evidence of such inconsistency.

According to reports, Teodoro Jr, who has already been sanctioned by Beijing for making unfounded remarks which undermined China's interests and bilateral ties between China and the Philippines, called for Philippine officials "who side with China" on the "West Philippine Sea issue" to resign at a forum on July 29, ignoring the fact that the "West Philippine Sea" is just a term unilaterally coined by Manila to support its unlawful claims in the South China Sea. He is attempting to foster an atmosphere within Philippine political circles in which those who hold differing views on the South China Sea issue from his faction are expected to be silenced or penalized.

On the same day, Manila announced a "nautical chart" of the "baselines of territorial sea" of China's Huangyan Island, a provocation that met with a firm response from China.

On Saturday, the China Coast Guard conducted law-enforcement patrols in the territorial sea of the island; the Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command conducted joint naval and air exercises near the island; and China issued a set of regulations to enhance the management of the Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve.

Less than two weeks ago, Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro told China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi that her country looks to address maritime disputes through dialogue and improve relations with China. But the latest development of the situation caused by the continued provocation by Manila, as well as Teodoro Jr's dangerous remarks, only raises doubt over whether the Philippines is sincere about engaging in dialogue or just obstinate in following the wrong path of challenging China's sovereignty.

The territory of the Philippines has been defined by a series of international treaties, and Huangyan Island has never been a part of it, rendering the Philippines' claims over the island completely baseless under international law.

After two Philippine Navy boats confronted China Coast Guard's vessels near China's Ren'ai Reef on July 20, Manila said the next day that it wants to avoid similar incidents and "reset" relations with China, only for the Philippines to then send more ships to intrude in the waters of Huangyan Island on July 24.

Whenever China and the Philippines prepare to launch dialogue, certain forces within the Philippines, particularly those from the military and law enforcement, such as Teodoro Jr, deliberately stir up trouble to derail dialogue progress. These parties harbor malicious intentions: rather than prioritizing the well-being of the Filipino people, they act on the instructions of external forces to advance personal interests.

Manila should be wary of these forces' damaging effects, rein in their dangerous games, and get rid of delusions that the Philippines will obtain illegal gains by acting as a proxy for external forces to contain China.