10-dash-line

You have to give it to China when it comes to finding ways to needle its enemies without having to sufficiently provoke them into firing the first shot. On August 28, when the US, the Philippines, and their allied navies have not even finished "high-fiving" the success of their show of force aimed at China, it responded with a bluster that felt like a kick in the gut.

The Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources issued a new standard map that improved on its controversial nine-dash-line of preposterous claims across the entire South China Sea by adding a 10th dash, consequently enlarging its "territory" by going around Taiwan and expanding its claim over its northwestern border with India.

The Philippines and Malaysia, whose maritime borders got further eaten up by the new cartographic rendition, swiftly rejected the new map, with Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. even exposing a charming sophomoric rawness in the ways of geopolitics with his "we will defend our territory" reaction.

You do not go to war over a map, Sir. It may be an officially sanctioned and issued piece of document, but there is a big difference between the barrel of a gun or boots on the ground and a mere piece of paper. I could be wrong but even an official map does not carry the same national symbolism that a flag does. You may tear up a map but not burn a flag.

Reacting to the angry protests from India, Nepal, Taiwan, Malaysia, and the Philippines, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said standard maps are routinely issued so "the relevant sides should stay objective and calm and refrain from overinterpreting the issue." And that is exactly what I thought.

Since China has no answer to joint naval exercises by the clearly superior navies of the US and its allies, as attempting to do anything can lead to accidentally starting a war, or force it to lose face in its very own backyard, Beijing can always resort to its bag of tricks for no other purpose than to drive its enemies nuts.

Beijing's new 10-dash-line is its way of responding to the global condemnation it received from a community of nations angered by its bullying of Philippine resupply runs to an obscure military outpost. The viral videos of its huge ships harassing with water cannons tiny Philippine boats have backed China into a corner.

The new 10-dash line is irrepressible China's way of thrusting out its jaw at those who humiliated it with a show of naval force in the sea that bears its name. Pride runs strong and deep in Asia, especially in China, where centuries of tradition govern its way of life. Right or wrong in its actions, effrontery nevertheless piques pride and is unpardonable.

One other thing. In 2016, an arbitral court in The Hague invalidated the nine-dash-line as without any basis. So what a nifty way of reasserting its preposterous claims with a new 10-dash-line that has not yet been invalidated. That may be a precarious legal perch to sit on but China couldn't care less. It is just out to give all of us a bad day.

So instead of getting mad, or worse, going nuts over some needling using a piece of drawing, I would go back to suggestions I made a few columns back. Arm our resupply ships with huge speakers blaring Yoyoy Villame's "Butsekik" at blocking Chinese ships and fly banners with images of Alfred E. Neuman. Then put Winnie the Pooh on the bow.