I have written repeatedly about the need to resolve the West Philippines Sea dispute with China through litigation. At the time when the Department of Foreign Affairs was still debating internally on whether to submit the issue to arbitration or resolve it through diplomacy, I was already arguing that arbitration was the only option given that negotiations could only be effective when entered into by parties on equal footing.  The Philippines, unfortunately, being smaller and weaker than China, cannot expect to be treated as an equal in these negotiations by China.

This is the first time though that I am writing that all negotiations are doomed given China’s maritime policy.

Mao Tse Tung crafted China’s overriding national policy. As a very young high school student, I first learned about this policy from the Kabataang Makabayan. That policy was simple: power revolves around the barrel of the gun. Deng Xia Ping in turn, defined how China should conduct its foreign policy: “Observe calmly; secure our position; cope with affairs calmly; hide our capacities and bide our time; be good at maintaining low profile; and never claim leadership”.

Read more: http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/08/15/chinas-maritime-policy/