By Raïssa Robles
It was an offer that China thought the Philippines could not refuse.
My sources knowledgeable with the offer said China was not even asking the Philippines to drop its filed arbitration case before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea. The only thing it asked was – miss the court-set deadline. That was all.
And in exchange, Chinese ships would stop harassing Filipino fishermen off Scarborough Shoal. Investments from Chinese state-owned banks and enterprises would once more enter the country. It would be the Golden Age of Chinese-Philippines relations all over again.
It would be lovelier the second time around.
The offer was actually discussed by President Benigno Aquino III in a cabinet meeting in January.
It took some time for Aquino to tell Beijing exactly what he thought of the offer. But when Aquino’s reply finally came, it was devastating – and splashed around the world, courtesy of a one-on-one interview with the New York Times.
But my sources stressed that the NYT interview was “mainly” directed at Manila’s long silent international allies. As Aquino jokingly said in one of his speeches afterward, the allies had reassured they were “behind” the Philippine move to resolve the South China Sea dispute through arbitration. But the problem was, no one was “beside” the Philippines in that effort.
Since the NYT interview came out, various officials of the United States have spoken out, questioning China’s Nine-Dash Line. The European Union has also spoken out, backing the use of the rule of law in resolving conflicts between nations.
Due to space constraints, a portion of my interview with former Congressman Roilo Golez had to be dropped. Here it is:
“Even If they withdraw now, they can always come back tomorrow, next month, just like what they did during the initial days of the standoff in Scarborough Shoal in April 2012. Despite an agreement that there would be mutual withdrawal, we withdrew but they stayed, Golez pointed out.”
Here is a portion of my story published today in South China Morning Post. Along with Beijing’s reply, courtesy of SCMP’s Teddy Ng.
Philippines ‘rejects China deal on disputed shoal’; China denies any such offer
Saturday, 01 March, 2014, 3:40am
News›Asia
PHILIPPINESRaissa Robles in Manila and Teddy Ng in Beijing
Chinese side reportedly offered to withdraw from Scarborough Shoal if Manila did not file document on dispute; Beijing denies any offer
The Philippines has rejected a Chinese offer to withdraw its ships from the Scarborough Shoal, if Manila did the same and delayed international arbitration on the territorial dispute.
China’s offer was made “informally through back channels”, Roilo Golez, a former congressman and presidential national security adviser told the South China Morning Post yesterday.
Citing a “very reliable source”, Golez said: “The carrot is that there’s going to be mutual withdrawal [of ships off Scarborough Shoal] provided the Philippines will not file the memorial [a “memorandum” setting out the Philippines’ position on the dispute] on March 30.”
Another source said the offer had been made in January.
In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang rejected claims that such a proposal had been made regarding Scarborough Shoal, known in China as Huangyan Island.
“China’s determination of upholding territorial sovereignty and integrity is unshakeable. We will not do any trade with our territory and maritime rights and interest,” Qin said.
“The Philippines side wants to file arbitration against China on the issue. We are opposed to that and we will never accept that. Our position has not change.”
According to Golez, Beijing was not asking Manila to scrap the arbitration case altogether, but that they postpone filing it until after the March 30 deadline set by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
Lauro Baja, a retired Philippine diplomat and former president of the United Nations Security Council, said that “missing the deadline will weaken our case because it means we are not ready. The [public] perception will be negative”.
Two Philippine sources familiar with China’s offer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that President Benigno Aquino had discussed the proposal, which included other incentives as well as the withdrawal, with his cabinet in January.
While Aquino has not publicly acknowledged the offer, the sources pointed to the president’s February 4 interview withThe New York Times as “partly” a response to the proposed deal.
“If we say yes to something we believe is wrong now, what guarantee is there that the wrong will not be further exacerbated down the line?” he told the newspaper. He later added: “At what point do you say, ‘Enough is enough’? Well, the world has to say it – remember that the Sudetenland was given in an attempt to appease Hitler to prevent world war two.”
To read the rest of the article, please click on this link.
Rolly says
Philippine media should acknowledge the wisdom Pnoy have shown so far in dealing with the Chinese leadership regarding Scarborough Shoal, moreover, his integrity, honesty and the unyielding resolve not to succumb to the temptation of great wealth the Chinese surreptitiously offered.
Martial Bonifacio says
U.S. freedom of navigation operations in 2013 targeted China, Iran
“Washington disagrees with the Philippines’ designation of the seas bounded by the island chain as internal waters and therefore off limits to foreign ships or overflight by foreign aircraft.”
Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/06/us-usa-defense-navy-idUSBREA2508920140306
Victin Luz says
So , the UNCLOs provision on regime of islands like Spratly’s , to have their own EEC and others was negated by USA? Paki Clear nga , what does these news means….Does it differs on islets claimed by South Americans Countries , USA, Great Bretain and other nations at other sea or ocean…. sa ASIA lang ba iyan dahil hindi tayo nagkakasundo ng sea limits natin?
Kajames says
Ref.: : http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/232573/news/nation/20-years-later-senators-who-rejected-us-bases-hailed-anew: ano kaya pakiramdam ng mga mambabatas na nagsulong sa pagpapalayas sa base amerikano sa Pilipinas ngayong binu-bully tayo ng tsina at walang magawa ang gobyerno kundi ang dumulog sa International Court. Mga chinese coast guard warship na nasa 180 NM sa ating mga aplaya ay tunay na nakababahala. Baka isang umaga magising na lang tayo na YUAN na ang pera natin….
vander anievas says
namimingit ang mundo sa ikatlong digmaan.
thanks the US can’t join aggressively and just post as in between.
rest of the nations must join and quickly smother this tension being sown
by the giant red twins.
nagpapayabangan ang dalawa dahil ang US ay kibitzer na lang.
sa laki ba naman ng utang nila sa tszeckqwah…
nagagawa na ng mga tszeckqwah ang lahat ng panlalansi dahil alam nilang naikadena na nila ang usa…
Kajames says
…didn’t the US Navy used the Scarborough Shoal as target pratice/waypoint for their Navy planes during their time in Subic Bay? Maybe, the chinese got hold of one of the US Navy practice bombs and wanted more.
parengtony says
Russia’s recent quick and premeditated moves to annex all or part of Ukraine has very serious implications on our country’s future (sooner rather than later). As former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski explained in Fareed Zacaria’s Sunday GPS TV show, if Russia will be able to get away with this blatant violation of so many UN, internationatiol, NATO, and, the worst one, its bilateral treaty with Ukraine where Ukraine agreed to give up all its nuclear weapons in exchange for Russia’s guarantee of Ukraines’ sovereignty, then surely China and other powerful nations will be emboldened to do the same to their neighbors.
It is not far fetched at all that at this time China will refrain from joining the rest of the world in any actual effort to prevent Russia from achieving its nefarious agenda. It is unlikely as well that China is not complicit in this dark drama.
Putin, Put___ In_ mo!
moonie says
russia and china are like twins, both are rogue. russia claimed it has the right to invade ukraine and china will most likely back up russia’s claim. already, russia’s army are massing in unkraine’s border, wearing military gears but got no nameplates and nothing to signify their rank and file, no russian flag embroidered on their military fatigues too. saw it on al jazeera. if not for the langauage spoken, you would no know they’re russians.
Kalahari says
The crisis in Ukraine was triggered by the fall of its pro-russian president, Victor Yanukovych, after months-long protest in Kiev when Victor reneged on his year-long promise to sign a trade pact with EU due to Russia’s pressure, and replaced by Arseny Yarsinyuk.
Vladimir Putin has rightly foreseen that the Russian Black Sea Fleet at the City of Sevastopol situated in the Crimean peninsula, a semi-autonomous province of Ukraine, would be threatened – hence the immediate occupation of the Crimea which presumably would be permanent at all cost.
It’s like Cuba in 1962 when the Soviets installed ballistic missiles aimed at U.S. that very nearly became nuclear world war 111 had not the soviets withdrew on time.
If Ukraine decided to dislodge the Russian, the battle would be comparable to David versus Goliath, circa 2014.
Rational and Objective says
I agree completely. A bad precedent.
Kalahari says
If push comes to shove – will the U.S. honor our treaties? Their military said yes – including Kalayaan Island in the Spratly archipelago, but their policy makers and Wall Street are ominously silent – for good reasons. China’s foreign currency reserve has reached $3.7 Trillion aside from holding $1.3 Trillion in U.S. treasury notes and bills. Lately, they embark on massive gold buying in U.S. and Europe to convert their huge paper bills, notes and bonds into the precious metal in preparation for a currency war in which their renminbi will be backed by a huge percentage of gold, thereby making the renminbi the world’s best and most trusted currency – no longer the weakened dollar.
The U.S. combined total public debt as of 12/12/13 stands at $17.226 trillion or over 100% of GDP, in which almost $2.5 trillion are held by china and Japan. There’s no way the U.S. can get away from this mess except some drastic acts that would reverse the situation.
vander anievas says
imo,
US will not dip its single finger on our sea dispute.
she can’t afford to win the ire of the Tchekwahz…
Victin Luz says
I agree with you @ vander..if ever the possibility still dim…not this moment..
moonie says
as well as having treaties with our country, U.S.A. also has treaties with china, multiple treaties in economy, culture, education, health, etc. I think, USA is caught in the middle and dont know which direction to go, being ally to both china and philippines. but, it cannot afford to go down with either china or philippines and will uphold american interests.
Sui Generis III says
The possibility that metadata from this site is being collected by the chinese is almost certain.
Having said that, Let me say to this to the chinese.
Stop bullying The Philippines.
Philippines and China have been a trading partner since international trading becomes possible. We share a similar history too, that is our land being plundered by foreign occupation.
We know that we are no match in term of firepower, but we will WIN this issue. That is a sure guarantee! And you know that too that’s why you resorted to bullying. Your 9 dash line contention is ludicrous. You chinese are embarassing yourself with this claim and your’s are a genocidal behavior.
We Filipinos don’t want to pick any fight with you. Let us continue our historical relation base on mutual respect and trust.
Personally i prefer china as an ally rather than US but in this case it is in our strategic advantage to have US as an ally.
Martial Bonifacio says
@Raissa few questions for you or your insider.
1. Who are those cabinet members that are for delaying the submission of the “memorial”? I read the report of Paterno Esmaquel II on Rappler and he said that the cabinet is split. The only one mentioned who wants to stand firm in submitting the memorial on time is Sec. Albert Del Rosario.
Quote: “This issue divided the Cabinet. Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario stood by his position to pursue the case, the source said.”
Source: http://www.rappler.com/nation/51558-china-derail-philippines-memorial-itlos
2. Why is Malaysia advocating for a bilateral negotiation between CHN-PH instead of accepting the multilateral negotiation under ITLOS? I mean there are multiple countries who have claims over parts of West Philippine Sea (including Malaysia) yet only the Philippines is the only one who wants to prove it in a legal way and present her evidence in a international court.
It doesn’t make any sense to me why other claimant countries wants to submit to Beijing’s demands and kowtow her policy. They maybe in Beijing’s good side but what if in the future they aren’t? I hope they see the severity of it especially if Beijing gets a hold of the entire West Philippine Sea.
Beijing can easily impose embargo to those countries that are defiant or express dissent to CCP demands. She can also take control of shipping lanes, trade & commerce between ASEAN/world.
Vincent says
It was mentioned somewhere that there was a division of the house — heated discussions amongst cabinet members on China’s offer of withdrawal of ships and more business.
Can your source tell us who among the secretaries voted for the carrot, who went with greed, who opted out of being Filipinos?
raissa says
:)
That would be giving away my sources.
Vincent says
I understand.
leona says
Why don’t Phil gov’t and China gov’t establish a ‘Hot Line Phone’ color RED/BULE and each leader can ‘talk/discuss/argue/fight’ over that phone…or
…mag SKYPE sila…
With modern tech…minimize misunderstanding nga!
No more old post office communication system.
Martial Bonifacio says
Why bother establishing a hotline when telephone companies in the Philippines have Huawei for their ICT services and devices? They can easily listen/spy to government officials to know our countries foreign policy, stand or next move regarding disputes like in WPS.
Martial Bonifacio says
*establish
vander anievas says
imo, our govt is doing what is in the right direction.
i don’t say we should not trust their(tsayniz) words, but there is no assurance to that. they(tsayniz) talk opposite to what they do.
does yuan fall have something to do with the dispute?
moonie says
china send spies overseas, masquerading as students.
Mabuhay Ang Pinoy! says
And I bet they also have spies here, working with modern day makapilis. They won’t succeed though.. lalabas ang pagiging makabayan ng Pinoy!
Mabuhay ka PNoy!
moonie says
I’m reminded of an incident in feb 2014 in sydney where a chinese scientist who was working with australian scientists disappeared taking with him research papers that were due to be published. they have made some medical breakthrough, but the chinese scientist stole the data on the last minute and return to china. now, china will probably have the medical breakthrough patented as though it was their own, discovered by themselves and no one else.
hiddendragon says
Quite a revelation and a relief.
PNoy has given us our groove (and our balls back)!