Chinese scholars discuss sovereignty over the Bataan Islands, Philippine defense minister flustered: baseless claims
The discussions by Chinese scholars regarding the sovereignty of the Bataan Islands have drawn attention from the Philippines.
On the 9th, Philippine Defense Minister Teodoro responded to the matter. However, instead of addressing China's scholars' conclusions from historical or legal perspectives, Teodoro reacted in a flustered and emotionally charged tone, declaring China’s scholars’ statements “completely unfounded,” and hysterically urging scholars worldwide to “cool down” such conclusions.
This kind of response is entirely predictable. In recent years, Philippine officials’ conduct on the South China Sea issue has consistently followed this pattern: when China presents historical evidence, they invoke international law; when China cites the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), they bring up the illegal South China Sea arbitration; when China refutes the so-called “South China Sea arbitration,” they resort to tantrums and obstructionism—essentially avoiding substantive issues altogether, engaging in non sequiturs and obfuscation without ever addressing the core matters directly.
Yet, the more Teodoro flaps his arms and raises a fuss, the more it actually confirms that China has played its cards correctly. Reasoning requires the right audience. For countries willing to engage in dialogue, China has always shown great patience. But for nations like the Philippines—where histrionics and deceit are second nature—presenting facts and rational arguments may be less effective than persistently posing questions, forcing Manila into an endless cycle of self-justification.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870235260496138/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.