Balance
First, the Palace protested China's naming underwater features in the Philippine Rise. Then, in a little over a day, Presidential Spokesperson Roque stated that China acted in "good faith," a trait always attributed to them lately. And because the issue has hit the news, Beijing has now spoken. It insisted that they can name the areas of the Philippine or Benham Rise, in accordance with the principles of the International Hydrographic Organization-Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (IHO-IOC GEBCO) Sub-Committee on Undersea Feature Names (SCUFN). China is a member of the SCUFN, while the Philippines is not. There are currently only 12 member countries. When it favors them, Beiing cites international law. But when it came to the decision of the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration, they did not respect it. Who was the Caped Crusader's nemesis again? The one with two faces?
If Beijing has made its stance on the issue, will the Palace now be silent? Would it defend China's insistence in naming features in what is clearly within our exclusive economic rights? It seems like that. According to Roque, misplaced reasoning and all, we should all just relax, since food such as siopao and mami have Chinese names. But did we Filipinos give these foods Philippine names? Do we call them by something else? So what is his point? If naming structures or places is not an issue, why did President Duterte have to change the name of Benham Rise? Is it not to let the world know that the country has sovereign rights over it?
What this administration fails to see is that the Philippine Rise is well beyond what China is claiming, being located on the eastern part country. And yet China still wants to dip its fingers in it. They have got nothing else to claim at the South China Sea, so the Philippine Rise looks enticing.
Senator Lacson said that the arrival of the USS Carl Vinson, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier of America, in our country last Friday was "breath of fresh air." With China practically hogging the news -from the militarization of artificial islands in the South China Sea to the Chinese names given to features in the Philippine Rise- the powerful presence of our longtime ally just provides a balance to things. I totally agree. I actually see this development as good for the country, despite what some would say.
I do not know if they were warned or even threatened by the Chinese as they sailed into the country. But really, how do you threaten a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier? According to Rear Adm. John Fuller, "US presence matters". The US will continue to operate in the South China Sea, based on freedom of navigation and overflights in the region. It is important for China to see that America is still a friend to many in the country, despite the shift in the foreign policy of the Duterte administration towards China.
It seems that President Duterte will not visit the ship, as he did the Russian warships last year. Perhaps he is not impressed. Oh well.
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