30 September 2020, NIICE Commentary 6063
Joahnna Pia Esquivias
China’s Policies on Asia Pacific Security Cooperation outlines what it considers as a win-win strategy towards peace and prosperity brought about by security and development. This is undergirded by the Five Principles of Coexistence – mutual respect for each other’s integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, quality and cooperation for mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence. China seeks a partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to achieve its goals through implementing a holistic approach in fields of economy, multilateral cooperation, and peaceful resolutions. China supports the economic regional integration of ASEAN and the United Nation’s Agenda for Sustainable Development. Moreover, China established the Belt and Road Initiative as the main infrastructure funding institution and put up the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk and Road Fund to bring funding for common development around the world according to its vision. China also sees itself as a facilitator of dialogue between nation-states and views itself as pursuing equal partnerships and inclusiveness to promote multilateralism. China claimed it has also been using frameworks and international law such as the Declaration of Conduct (DOC) in South China Sea issues, UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the UN for rule-setting and compliance, regardless of how different its interpretation of these are with other nation-states. Military activities and trainings between the region’s countries are also encouraged by China for regional security and territorial integrity. All envisioned under the framework of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. This is how the so-called Chinese Dream is being realized.
China and the Philippines
Since President Xi Jinping assumed office in 2012, he placed the Chinese Dream at the center stage and has followed on this promise. The dream, “Great renewal of the Chinese nation”, embodies the idea of the shared destiny and prosperity for the nation, the Chinese people and the world. This community of shared interest is motivated by the self- recognition of its great history of bringing the world together through the silk route, moving forward from the perils of its past, a century of humiliation and continuing the unparalleled rapid expansion of its economy. China’s Policies on Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation is a long term and systemic project to pave the road for common prosperity in the region and the Philippines should exercise cautious optimism.
First, Philippines and Asia Pacific Region can expect China to deliver a lot of results. China is taking on a role as a global leader, and it is doing so by gaining recognition in various fields such as economy, technology, environment, tourism and culture. The confidence in their economy has been sustained albeit the gradual decline from the double digit to single digit GDP growth. The Chinese have proven themselves as innovators in the field of technology and have been steering away from the image of being counterfeiters. They have been leading in developing cars for the digital age powered by electricity and operated by artificial intelligence and other sensing technologies. Their digital silk road has already launched its three-year plan to compete with America’s Global Positioning System (GPS), which China is calling BeiDuo (Big Dipper) with an investment of USD 25 billion as well as USD 174 billion on information infrastructure initiatives for high speed internet. Moreover, it has also recognized the need to cut down on carbon emissions and move towards environment friendly manufacturing processes. On tourism and culture, China has been investing resources into being recognized by United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the country, which would be listed as possessing the most world heritage sites. These aforementioned efforts are all geared toward boosting their global image, hence, it can be argued that from a surface level stand point their commitment to the region, is not merely lip service.
Second, the Philippines and the other members of ASEAN can benefit from accelerated cohesion. China’s call for regional integration to respond to both traditional and non-traditional threats compels countries to create systematic responses to present issues. Beyond economic gains, cooperation between ASEAN and China can create a streamlined response on disaster relief, counter terrorism cooperation, combatting transnational crimes, cyber security and non- proliferation and disarmament. Given the common occurrence of typhoons in the Philippines, a structured response from the region can be of great help. Top international relief efforts came from distant countries with the exception of Brunei, Bangladesh, China and Japan. Terrorist attacks have been a perennial issue in the Philippines (with ISIS affiliated groups), as well as across Asia like in Kashgar, Xinjiang, China. This problem is of complex nature involving not only terrorism, but religious extremism and separatism. Given the vast experience of Indonesia with Aceh and Philippines with the Mindanao (Moro Islamic Liberation Front), a free exchange of information and learning can be consolidated more efficiently to inform their preventive action plans. The war on drugs can be combatted by a collective regional effort to stop the movement of drugs around porous islands in Asia. Security in terms of arms and nuclear weapons as well as in the web are areas, which are imperative to address. There is an impetus to act as a unit to ensure safety in the region.
Third, Philippines can enhance its economy through the infrastructure projects. China recognizes the untapped potential in the Philippines like manpower and natural resources. Given the lack of ability to independently develop, infrastructure projects from the Belt and Road Initiative will create access between unconnected regions within the country and outside. This access will enable the people to make use of the untapped resources, thus more jobs and social mobility. Moreover, the spill over of technological knowledge is also an outcome of this project. This was seen when China solicited the help of Japan’s Kawasaki and Germany’s Siemens to develop their high-speed railways. Soon after, local engineers learned and improved on the technology they have obtained from the foreign companies. The digital silk road will also provide connectivity for the un-served needs in the country. This online connectivity will bring forth low cost business practices, ability to send help to far-flung areas and relaying of information. The convenience, it can bring to the country, will stimulate the economy as well as provide comfort to lives of the people.
Caution
In practicing caution, the Philippines and the region should assess their laws in foreign investments to ensure the protection of national interests. Reviewing their policies on foreign acquisition of companies should be a priority in the legislative sector of the country to prevent unwelcome and unwanted consequences. The Philippines and countries with ongoing territorial disputes should recognize the dissonance in China’s position on areas of conflict. China has stated they wanted equal consideration and legitimacy with territorial claims of all countries, yet they have also unequivocally stated that Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands belong to them, while also stating that “China opposes certain countries’ provocations of regional disputes for their selfish interests” and that they are forced to make necessary responses in South China Sea. Lastly, it should be noted by the Philippines that they are the only member country of ASEAN unmentioned in the white paper released on January 2017. Given this, the Philippines should remain vigilant with certain dealings with China.
Ultimately, this tempered positive outlook on China’s role in the region is because it is in untested and unchartered waters. In the past, there has been an overwhelming reliance and preference for the United States’ presence in the region. However, given their volatile political trajectory, trust in them has not remained strong. So, in looking at the long-term situation, China may start believing that regional states see US as no longer the country to seek out for economic wealth. China sees an opportunity for its imagined new world order by fostering better relations with neighbors and binding them together. – 保合太和 Bao He Tai He “Great harmony is preserved in union” is sharing harmony but not sameness in seeking cooperation and integration.
And as the Chinese proverb says “If you want to get rich, first build a road” (要想富先修路 yāo xiǎng fù xiān xiū lù), This has been interpreted as the physical road and infrastructure projects, and even as the digital silk road. However, this road to a shared destiny is more than the tangible pavement, which links territories, it is a connection of peoples. It is imperative to look beyond the concrete, but rather see it as progress and prosperity that requires relationship (关系 guānxì) and a sense of community built on trust, sincerity and mutual benefit. And as the Filipino saying goes, “People gain strength by standing together” (matibay ang walis, palibhasa’y magkabigkis). There should be a better understanding of China’s strategic thought so that the Philippines can guard its interests while taking advantage of the opportunities that are available.
