Pacifying the Pacific

PerryScope

By Perry Diaz

Pacific Rim

In the aftermath of the signing of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the United States and the Philippines, China unexpectedly took a conciliatory stance. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a press conference that EDCA does not seem to intimidate China. “It is justifiable for people to ask any agreement between the US and the Philippines be consistent with this principle and not at the cost of mutual trust between regional countries and regional peace and stability,” Qin said. “With regard to President Obama’s visit to the four Asian countries, we have expounded on our principled position on China-related issues. We believe that relevant parties should all make positive efforts to enhance mutual trust and cooperation and promote common peace, stability and prosperity in this region, rather than the opposite. The Pacific Ocean should be kept pacific.”

For someone who had been bullying her neighbors for the past several years – causing high tensions and apprehension among them – this is a welcome gesture. However, it remains to be seen if China was serious about it and back her entreaty up with actions. Or could it be that she is playing a game of deception while she’s planning a strategy to counter the success of Obama’s recent four-country Asian tour to reassure the United States’ defense treaty allies – Japan, South Korea, Philippines – that America is committed to come to their aid in the event of external attack?

As Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” says, “All warfare is based on deception,” many Chinese leaders had used this strategem successfully in military and political conflicts since “The Art of War” was written 2,400 years ago.

Land grab

Chinese fortifications on Panganiban Reef

Recent land-grabbing incidents where deception was used were in the South China Sea. In 1994, China built a platform on the tiny Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef) purportedly to provide a rest stop for fishermen in the area. Since the reef was only 130 nautical miles from Palawan, the Philippines welcomed it, as it would be beneficial to Filipino fishermen. Wrong! As soon as the Chinese had established their presence in the area, they started building fortifications on the reef.

Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal

A more recent incident happened in 2012 at the Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal), 124 nautical miles from Luzon. After driving out Filipino fishermen from the lagoon in the shoal, a standoff ensued between Chinese and Philippine Coast Guard vessels. The U.S. brokered a deal where both countries would withdraw their vessels from the shoal. The Philippines complied with the agreement but China did not. Instead

China roped off the only entrance to the lagoon; thus, preventing Filipino fishermen from getting in.

These acts of land-grabbing through the use of deception have made China’s neighbors wary of her aggressive attempts to assert control over 90% of the South China Sea. She claimed that it has been a part of China since ancient times. Her claims overlap with the claims – partly or wholly – of Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines… and just recently, Indonesia.

Natuna Island

China insists that the Natuna Islands fall within the controversial nine-dash line, which arbitrarily delineates the waters she’s claiming; therefore, she has sovereignty over them. But the Natunas are within Indonesia’s 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Up until now, nobody had disputed Indonesia’s sovereignty over the Natunas, which gave Indonesia a good enough reason to stay out of the territorial disputes among the six South China Sea claimants. Not anymore.

Recently, it was reported that Indonesia was beefing up her air presence along the South China Sea. The report said that Indonesia was upgrading Ranai airbase on the Riau Islands, which is near the Natunas, so that it could accommodate Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30 fighter aircraft. In addition, four Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters are being deployed to Ranai airbase.

Miyako Channel

Yonaguni Island

It is interesting to note that Japan is planning to militarize Yonaguni Island by installing a military lookout station. It is 93 miles southeast of the disputed Senkaku Islands and 148 miles southwest of Miyako Island. “It will allow early warning of missiles and supplement the monitoring of Chinese military movements,” said a Japanese defense expert.

Map of Miyako and Shimoji Islands

In addition to the Yonaguni lookout station, Japan is also planning to convert the civilian airport at Shimoji Island to military use. Shimoji is adjacent to the strategic Miyako Island, which is 124 miles southeast of Senkaku Island. Between Miyako and Okinawa Island lies the 161-mile-wide Miyako Channel, which connects the East China Sea to the Philippine Sea. This is a major chokepoint to the Pacific Ocean.

Bashi and Ballintang Channels

Batanes Islands in between Bashi and Ballintang Channels

According to a recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article, five military camps are being considered as possible sites for American facilities to be built in the Philippines under the EDCA. One of these sites is the province of Batanes, which WSJ described as a site that offers “an excellent vantage point from which to monitor a key maritime chokepoint for any vessels departing China for the Pacific Ocean.” Batanes, which consists of several islands, is located between two channels in the 160-mile-wide Luzon Strait: Bashi and Ballintang. Batanes is about 100 miles from the main Philippine island of Luzon and about 120 miles from Taiwan.

First Island Chain

First Island Chain and Second Island Chain

Whoever controls the Miyako, Bashi, and Ballintang channels controls the First Island Group, which runs from Japan all the way to Vietnam through Taiwan, Philippines, Borneo (Indonesia), Malaysia, and Singapore. Prior to the signing of EDCA, the Philippines was the weakest link in the First Island Chain. Not anymore. EDCA strengthened the chain link; thus, containing China to the confines of East China and South China Seas.

Vince Lombardi once said, “A good offense is a good defense.” By bolstering the defense capability of U.S. allies – Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines — along the First Island Chain, Chinese expansionism into the Pacific Ocean is held back. Thanks to the vigilance of Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines in keeping the Pacific Ocean pacific. Indeed, not only is the Pacific Ocean pacific, it’s pacified, too.

(PerryDiaz@gmail.com)