Balancing act

We really have an unusual, if not delicate relationship with China these days. China recently promised to help out in the country's current war on illegal drugs. President Duterte has always mentioned that the reason drug lords could not be arrested was because they were in China. The Chinese ambassador recently requested for information on these supposed Chinese drug lords, so they could help out on their end. Philippine and Chinese law enforcement agencies would coordinate in eliminating illegal drugs in both countries.

China is well known for having very strict laws against drug trafficking. A death sentence awaits those caught bringing in illegal drugs into China. Still, illegal drugs continue to enter their country from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan as mentioned by Duterte.

Several Chinese nationals have been arrested or even killed in the ongoing campaign. Beijing's help would do well indeed. If the source of drugs could be stopped, then eradicating drugs altogether would be much simpler, and hopefully less bloody.

But how long would this cooperation last?

Just recently, President Duterte warned that if China should ever invade the country, it would "be bloody." Even if China is militarily superior, taking any part of the country would not be easy. It was not clear what territory exactly was Duterte referring to. I don't suppose China would invade the country, as that would really be foolish. I would assume he was referring to territories in the South China Sea, such as Pagasa Island, Ayungin Shoal, and Panatag Shoal.

This administration has not really insisted on China's abeyance to the Permanent Court of Arbitration decision, as it does not want to antagonize China before talks could resume on territorial issues.

Duterte also seems to be wooing China into investing in infrastructure in the country, particularly railways in Mindanao. But the President himself has already said that the time will come when this issue must be put on the table.

When China must adhere to international law, which other countries in the region are also interested in, he has begun by telling China to allow Filipino fishermen to fish in waters considered part of our Exclusive Economic Zone. Whether China would even allow that remains to be seen.

It really is a balancing act dealing with Beijing. With Duterte's penchant of spewing out threats, invectives, warnings, then later on stating they were jokes, one would wonder how Beijing would react to his requests for help, such as fighting illegal drugs and railways and at the same time, warnings on territorial issues.

There really will come a time when the decision of the PCA will have to be discussed, or in this case, enforced. China has always said it would not abide by the PCS decision. So how Duterte will deal with that kind of talk also remains to be seen.