What Are the Broader Implications of the Conflict Between China and the Philippines?
As the United States government resorts back to militarization of the Middle East and increasing the profits of Raytheon and others by supplying the region with Patriot missile systems and targeting Syria in airstrikes, which attempt to eliminate the Iranian presence in that country, Cold War II rages on in the South China Sea. Last month, the Biden administration publicly announced that it would defend the Philippines from any perceived Chinese aggression (through the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty), likening this to unconditional support of Taiwan (or Israel). This means that another potential hotspot for World War III to begin exists, and the American Empire will continue to police the South China Sea and bully China into compliance with the global order.
China and the Philippines have had years of territorial disputes over the Spratly Islands, including the Second Thomas Shoal, and by 2013, the Philippines was attempting to thwart Chinese militarization through successful but unenforceable litigation in the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands (the final ruling came in 2016 in favor of the Philippines). China has claimed almost the entirety of the South China Sea, including islands and waters far from the Chinese mainland and closer to the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan (called the “nine-dash line”)
In 2013, the Obama administration deployed the USS Curtis Wilbur and the George Washington Carrier Strike Group to the East China Sea and the Philippine Sea to show China that the United States stood in solidarity with the Philippines. With an increased Chinese presence in the South China Sea and the reclaiming of islands and building of military bases on reefs and cays, the United States military began a regular practice of intimidating China through the Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) in October 2015, of which the first was the deployment of the USS Lassen to areas near the Spratly Islands (some suggest that an increased American presence in the South China Sea and the East China Sea was the reason for China’s pivot to the land with the Belt and Road Initiative, and of course with that, comes more American taxpayer funding to other infrastructure projects worldwide to counter China’s new Silk Road).
These American military patrols continue to the present and risk a confrontation between China and the United States. The fact that American taxpayers are forced to fund militarism in an area that is considered China’s backyard speaks volumes to the arrogance of the American Empire and its leadership (currently the Biden administration). After all, we have to make sure that the interests of the American-controlled global economy and corporations are bolstered by the most powerful military force that the world has ever seen. Of course, Americans just fall for the propaganda that we must protect our friends in the region and counter the evil nations that threaten them, but ultimately, it is the American people who will be forced to pick up their rifles and fly over to Asia to fight on behalf of interests thousands of miles away from their everyday lives. The politicians who send us there will never back up their rhetoric or go over there and fight the wars that they started.
A few weeks ago at the Second Thomas Shoal, Philippine boats were attempting to resupply a World War II-era transport ship, the BRP Sierra Madre, stationed at the reef, when the Chinese navy blocked them, causing a minor collision between two vessels in two separate incidents. Of course, China claimed that the Philippines were illegally bringing supplies to fortify the shoal, while the Philippines (backed by the PCA and the United States, Canada, Japan, and the European Union) argued that the tiny piece of land and surrounding waters were its territory.
Last week, another incident occurred where Chinese speed boats chased a Philippine vessel, which was carrying journalists covering the disputes over the Spratly Islands, and the Philippine navy dispatched its own speed boats to prevent further provocation. An American surveillance airplane watched the scene just to make sure that military aid for its ally was not needed (increasing the potential for a shooting incident that could escalate tensions between the United States and China). Then, another Philippine craft was harassed by Chinese boats when it was shot with water cannons, and the Chinese ships did “dangerous maneuvers” around the Philippine resupply vessels.
Amidst all of the tensions between the two countries and the United States government’s deployment of the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Ronald Reagan to the region, the Philippines has now joined annual war games to move closer to the United States, Australia, Japan, and Canada (this year, the Annualex exercises were held in Japan); and the overall purpose is to find ways to counterbalance Chinese military might and intimidate that country into backing down. Although many of China’s actions are not justifiable, is policing the world and getting involved in a region that most Americans are not even familiar with really all that beneficial, especially given the fragile relations between the two superpowers and the potential for World War III?
If China were to send warships to the Caribbean Sea or the Gulf of Mexico to bolster relations with nations near the United States and claim that patrols were merely for freedom of navigation purposes, would Americans (especially politicians) not conclude that China was doing so to provoke and initimidate the United States? So, why would China not believe the same thing when American ships patrol waters in the South China Sea and our government highlights that the United States will defend China’s adversaries at all costs? It is easy for Americans to sit there and judge what they deem as beligerent nations causing trouble, but until you can turn the tables and learn that the United States government does the same thing that it condemns other nations of doing, you cannot fully comprehend the geopolitical situation. Failing to undertand the nuances of these events can have catastrophic (and potentially nuclear) consequences. Diplomacy involves being cognizant of all perspectives.
Amid the ensuing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, not only has the United States deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier groups (as well as A-10 Warthog and F-15E attack planes) to the Mediterranean Sea to babysit the region and prevent Iran and Hezbollah from entering the fray, but China has also dispatched six warships to Oman and the Gulf of Aden (under the guise of exercises), just in case the conflict escalates. Having two military superpowers on standby in the Middle East, one supporting Israel (United States) and the other supporting Palestine (China), has the potential to lead to a misunderstanding or accident that causes things to escalate out of control. The American ship, USS Carney (in the Red Sea), has already destroyed fifteen drones and four cruise missiles being shot from the Houthi-controlled region of Yemen against Israel, so it is not difficult to see how the United States or China may inadvertently exchange fire.
It is not just the South China Sea or the Middle East that is taking sides in Cold War II and causing hostilities between superpowers. In fact, Russia has conducted joint naval exercises in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal with Myanmar (where Russia supports the military junta that took control in a coup) and Bangladesh (where Russia is building a nuclear power plant), and this may cause tensions with India, which is already in a conflict with China over territory and economic dominance.
With so many fronts open and conflicts brewing around the world, it is difficult not to think that World War III is on the horizon, and the escalations between China and the Philippines, with its unconditional support from the United States government, is as good of a place as any for such a large-scale war to begin. It should not be at all surprising that global corporations would gladly risk American lives for a little profit, but perhaps blowing each other up in a nuclear exchange is not in the best interest for the average person of any country. Peace may not be profitable, but my guess is that most Americans would not prefer the alternative. So, before you blindly fly the Ukrainian, South Korean, Israeli, Tawainese, or Philippine flags, perhaps you should be aware of what that ultimately means.
Thank you for reading, and please check out my book, The Global Bully, and website.