China Plays 'Hard and Soft'

China and the Philippines back away from a confrontation in the South China Sea.

2012.05.17
Photo: RFA

A long-running dispute with the Philippines over an island in the South China Sea has put a strain on the Sino-U.S. relationship, forcing Beijing to play hard and soft ball at the same time, Chinese commentators said.

Last week, travel agencies in a number of key Chinese cities suspended tours to the Philippines amid anti-China protests and growing nationalist sentiment among Chinese netizens.

However, both sides appeared to be backing away from the heightened tensions caused by weeks of confrontation over the potentially resource-rich Scarborough Shoal, a tiny island about 230 kilometers (140 miles) off the coast of the Philippines.

As an annual fishing ban came into effect, the official English-language China Daily newspaper called on Philippines President Benigno Aquino to use the time for further negotiations with Chinese officials.

"Aquino should take this opportunity to match words with deeds and work with the Chinese side to address the situation through consultations, as a peaceful South China Sea caters to the interests of both sides," the paper said in an editorial on Wednesday.

Chinese analysts said that Beijing is keen to avoid further escalation of the dispute, in spite of hard-line official rhetoric and growing nationalist calls for military conflict among its citizens, because it would put further strain on ties with Washington.

"Within the framework of Sino-U.S. relations, I think they should ask themselves whether they can make gains from this sort of dispute, and boost the level of respect over the South China Sea island disputes," said Tseng Chi-wen, editor-in-chief of the Taiwan-based magazine Asia Pacific Defense.

"The relationship between China and the U.S. is far broader and deeper than that of the U.S. with the Philippines," he said.

Threatened losses

China's strategy has been to threaten to remove some of the benefits to Manila from friendly bilateral ties, as well as to hint at possible military action if the dispute is allowed to continue, according to Hong Kong current affairs commentator Camoes Tam.

"China is using a strategy of using the carrot to frighten the rabbit .. .but it has a hard and a soft line to its strategy," Tam said.

"The soft line is its limiting of banana imports from the Philippines, because around a half of the Philippines' banana exports are destined for China," he said.

"If this drags on for another couple of weeks, then the bananas will be wasted."

Tam cited leaked reports in the Japanese media that Beijing had deployed a naval vessel to the disputed area. "This means that if you continue along these lines we will attack you," he said.

The China Daily said that Aquino has been talking "more sensibly" in recent days, however, indicating that talks have reached more of an understanding.

Strained ties

In a commentary in the Hong Kong's Economic Journal newspaper, Bryan Wong, assistant professor of applied social studies at Hong Kong's City University, wrote that Aquino's attempt at closer ties with Washington have put a strain on Sino-U.S. ties.

"Ever since former Philippines president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo attracted high levels of Chinese investment in natural resources, [current president Benigno "Noynoy"] Aquino III has looked to the U.S. to return as a key player in the Asia Pacific region," Wong wrote.

"This has put China and the U.S. at loggerheads."

Wong accused Aquino of trying to extract maximum political capital from the continuing friction between Beijing and Washington.

"On the one hand, he continues to encourage Chinese investment, while on the other, he hopes to strengthen ties with the U.S. in the hope of limiting Chinese power and influence in the region," Wong said.

The recent dispute was sparked on April 8, when Chinese merchant ships prevented a Philippines naval vessel from arresting a group of Chinese fishing boats that said they were taking shelter from rough seas near the island.

Both sides have since sent ships to the area, ratcheting up tensions on the water and leading to a diplomatic row that has stoked nationalism on both sides.

Reported by Xin Yu for RFA's Mandarin service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

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