Defense brass rift ‘only gladdens enemy’

China must be gloating. The open rift among Philippine defense officials over the procurement of two frigates can only gladden Beijing’s communist rulers. The latter want small neighbors to stay weak in the face of their militarization of the South China Sea. There should be no hindrance to their concreting of reefs into artificial island-fortresses. Beijing resented Manila’s purchase in 2014 of a squadron of 12 trainer supersonic fighters.

Manila’s frigate acquisition would bolster Philippine maritime security. The tiff between defense decision makers, including the relief of the Navy flag officer in command, mars the naval beef-up. Reportedly the differences were over the combat control system, of which weaponry is the core of the anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine capability. The choice of such CMS is strategic. So should be the thinking and action of the security brass.

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Compassion prevailed. Despite his anger with local communist rebels for ambushing soldiers on humanitarian mission, President Rody Duterte unilaterally declared Christmas truce with them. Their sneak attack on troops rescuing landslide victims in Northern Samar mimicked their massacre years ago of soldiers rushing food to flooded Bulacan villagers. Similar assaults on unarmed soldiers marketing for food and on security guards of agribusinesses earlier prompted Duterte to halt peace talks. He also began the process of classifying them as terrorists, to foil their financiers. Riskily that could antagonize mere political dissenters and so fuel the rebel propaganda. With the 1992 repeal of the Anti-Subversion Law, it is no longer a crime to espouse communism, only to take up arms against the state. Perhaps the Christmas ceasefire would give political leaders time to reflect on that.

Backchannels reportedly are still open between government and rebel negotiators. That can only be with Duterte’s consent. Admitting to be a one-time sympathizer, he entertains the possibility of ending the 49-year-long insurgency.

The communist ideologues are in their 70s to 80s. Except for some hardliners, they surely wish to see some positive effects of their struggle. Their dream of achieving parity of arms with the government’s tanks, fighters, and warships will never come true for victory. Better for them to strike up a political settlement for their armed followers, then join the parliamentary struggle. In Colombia last year the two communist rebel armies forged such settlement, paving the way for farm aid to them. In Nepal last week it was the two Maoist parties, which joined the parliamentary struggle a decade ago, that contended in the national election for prime minister. Those are better options than more years on the run, away from families, and earning only so much from extortion. The government panel needs to be smarter too. It should understand that, following Mao Tse-Tung Thought, it is the Communist Party and not the National Democratic Front (political arm) that really controls the New People’s Army (military arm). Should the peace talks resume, as it hopes it would, the panel should insist that the CPP officers also sit and sign, not just the NDF “consultants.” That was a lesson learned from past negotiations since 1987, 1992, 2002, and 2010. The CPP itself must be made to commit to peace and discard Mao’s China-style “perpetual revolution.”

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Speaking of which, it’s that time of year again in China when workers go on strike and other protests to make bosses pay their salaries. In Shenzhen the other week eight workers threatened to hurl themselves from the top of a building due to unpaid wages. The commotion drew some TV coverage and a police arrest. Such actions are frequent in Dec. and Jan. as workers press employers for their pay in time for the Chinese New Year. They need the money for homecomings after a year’s work and pay house repair or the children’s school tuition. Construction companies usually withhold the wages, and give out only food and bed-space allowance until projects are completed. In case of cost overruns due to construction price spikes, bad management, and corruption – the wages are last to be released. Employers worry that the workers might pack up and not return from spring break, so keep the wages till the end.

Mass actions are forbidden by Beijing, and state forces are quick to quell labor unrest. Chairman Mao waged communist revolution in 1949 in the name of the oppressed proletariat, but workers today no longer may freely organize for rights and benefits. The downtrodden nonetheless think of ways to publicize their plight. That’s the only way to make communist officials take notice and compel the salary releases. The workers also get a few days’ free board and lodging in police jails. A fairly recent law requires employers to pay wages at least monthly, but enforcement is spotty.

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