This is a re-posted opinion piece.
Both sides stood firm on their territorial claims and their preferred mode of dispute settlement: multilaterally for the Philippines, and bilaterally for China. But President Aquino and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao, meeting last night in Beijing, also agreed that the territorial dispute is best resolved peacefully. The two leaders also resolved to make the Spratlys a zone of friendship and cooperation.
That commitment should help improve bilateral relations, which have been strained for several years now by corruption scandals, and in the past year by the hostage crisis in Rizal Park, the execution of Filipino drug couriers in China, and recent Chinese military activities in the West Philippine Sea. The broadband deal with China’s ZTE Corp. is unlikely to be revived by the Aquino administration, but the two presidents agreed to “reconfigure” the NorthRail deal.
The NorthRail project, derailed by allegations of overpricing and corruption, and the aborted ZTE deal have discouraged the Philippine government from tapping a $1.8-billion loan facility that China has made available for various projects. Chinese officials have described the scandals as a learning experience and expressed willingness to play by Philippine rules.
Both sides have something to gain in easing tension. China’s behavior in the Spratlys will serve as a gauge of its behavior as it plays a greater role in international affairs. It cannot afford to be seen as a bully threatening vital sea lanes; Chinese officials insist they are not bullying their neighbors. The world’s second largest economy offers a huge potential for trade and investments. Even the United States continues to strengthen its ties with China, and the economies of the two countries are closely intertwined.
Disputes between the Philippines and China cannot be swept under the rug, but the two sides can focus on many other areas of friendship and cooperation even as the process of dispute settlement continues. Measures must be drawn up to prevent a repeat of the ZTE and NorthRail scandals. The two countries can work closer to stop Filipino drug mules from operating in China. Even with thorny issues still waiting to be settled, the two countries can move on, beyond corruption scandals, beyond rancor over the hostage mess, and draw on centuries of shared history to strengthen friendly ties.
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Source: The Philippine Star, Editorial, Sept. 1, 2011
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