PH becoming a thorn in China’s side

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

MANILA, Philippines–Who would have thought that the tiny Philippines would be a thorn in the side of giant China?

Magdalo Rep. Francisco Ashley Acedillo said the Philippines’ geographic location is in the way of China’s defense strategy in the Asia-Pacific region, giving its ally, the United States, a base from which to counter China.

“Our strategic location has an impact on China’s establishment of its nine-dash line and any strategy to counter China will always factor in the Philippines,” Acedillo said in a recent interview, referencing China’s claim to 90 percent of the South China Sea.

“From the point of view of China’s strategy, we are the biggest thorn in its side because our location gives any [allied] country the upper hand in deterring the move of China toward the Pacific and we are getting in the way of [China’s] intentions,” Acedillo said.

For China “to feel secure, it must ensure that its enemies are outside the second island-chain,” which is nearer the Pacific, and no one would be able to hold the line in the first chain, he said.

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail