By Robert B. Roque, Jr.
China is trying to turn the tables on us, accusing the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) of an intrusion into what it claims as its sovereign waters without permission – Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
And instead of an apology, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin defended its Coast Guard ship for directing a military-grade laser light at the PCG vessel, resulting in the temporary blindness of a Filipino coast guardian.
President Marcos summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian over the incident and “the increasing frequency and intensity of actions” by Beijing that are deemed aggressive against the Philippines.
I deem these actions China could not do if it were a US naval ship passing through the Taiwan Strait.
It may not be here, perhaps, not even now, but soon this arrogance of China will lead it to biting off more than it can chew.
Cautious of China
After shooting down what US authorities believe to be a Chinese spy balloon, two more suspicious objects were taken out by F-22 fighter jets in the airspace above the US and Canada within a week.
Canada is now cautious about what unidentified flying objects are hovering overhead and whether these are being sent for a purpose. Could they have been from China?
President Xi Jinping might be too drunk with the leadership of a superpower that he’s failing to consider how many potential enemies China is collecting, including nations his government has plunged into debt.
Tit-for-tat?
Similarly, China is accusing Washington of “illegally” flying high-altitude balloons into its airspace –at least 10 times since January last year, according to its foreign ministry.
The White House has denied the accusations aired by Wang and described the claim as an attempt at “damage control,” following the discovery of the alleged spy balloon from China that was shot down in southern California.
Beijing may soon realize that even if their accusations against the US were true, sympathy from the world, especially from its closest neighbors here in Asia, would be dry as the desert.
JPE turns 99
The quintessential trapo, Juan Ponce Enrile, turned 99 on Valentine’s Day. He’s strong enough to celebrate, post about it on social media, and retain the job as President Marcos’s legal adviser.
Yet, amid all the years he’d been given, JPE has yet to grow brave enough to face his hearing before the Sandiganbayan last Tuesday for plunder over the pork barrel scam. At least his former chief of staff, Atty. Gigi Reyes, was there.
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SHORT BURSTS. For comments or reactions, email firingline@ymail.com or tweet @Side_View. Read current and past issues of this column at https://www.thephilbiznews.com
