South China Sea: Vietnam Urges 'Peaceful Solution' While Philippines Admits Helplessness

As the problems play out in the South China Sea between China and its two southern neighbors, Vietnam and the Philippines, it is interesting to see how the two smaller countries approach the problem.

The Nikkei Asian Review reported Wednesday that Vietnam will seek a “peaceful solution” to the dispute while the Philippines continues to complain that it has a “very weak” military capability to stop any territory from Chinese intrusion. Meanwhile, authorities on Tuesday appealing to the Congress for an increased 2020 military budget. This indicates that the Philippines is willing to fight but would be helpless against the much larger China military.

Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc made his comments one day after the U.S. Department of Defense expressed concern about a Chinese survey ship and escort vessels that have sailed off the Spratly Islands for over a month.

The Spratly Islands are a territory in the South China Sea that all three countries lay claim to. China claims historical sovereignty over the “Nine-Dash-Line” while the Philippines and Vietnam claim the area is in their respective exclusive economic zones (EEZs).

Beijing responded to the Pentagon charges of “maintaining its bullying tactics” with comments by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang, who said, "The rights and wrongs of the issue are quite clear. The U.S. has made irresponsible remarks over and over again, disregarding facts and calling black white, and China is firmly opposed to that."

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said about his country’s defense programs that, “Currently, we have a very small capability to respond to intrusions because our territorial sea is so vast, and we have limited equipment and resources,” during a hearing at the House appropriations committee.

When asked by a representative from Cagayan de Oro in Northern Mindanao about his position on the ongoing issue with Chinese vessel intrusion in the West Philippine Sea, Lorenzana said he thinks it is now time to invoke the arbitral award won by the Philippines against China from the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016.

He added that the naval forces of other countries like the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Russia and the U.K. pass through territorial waters of the country, they inform the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) of their passage but the Chinese “don’t notify us when they pass through Sibutu Strait and they turn off their identification system.”

Whatever posturing takes place between the three countries, the Chinese are the big players on the bloc militarily, akin to the king in a deck of cards compared to one face card each held by the other two. They all know that the U.S. is the “ace of spades” and is ready and willing to join the “card game” at any time if China’s behavior continues.