(CNN Philippines) — A Chinese tabloid reportedly affiliated with Beijing’s Communist Party mouthpiece insulted the Philippines’ combat capability Tuesday (April 21), and even went as far as calling the country “cute little submissive” of the United States.
The Global Times, an English-language newspaper in China which describes itself as “one of the most dynamic players among Chinese media,” came out with an editorial Tuesday entitled ‘Inappropriate drills intrude on S.China Sea’ criticizing the joint military exercises between the Philippines, U.S., and Australia less than 24 hours after the war games began.
“Of all the countries involved in territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the Philippines is the one with the most tricks up its sleeves, but none of its tricks work,” said Global Times.
The paper, which reportedly enjoys close ties with China’s mouthpiece the People’s Daily, also belittled the country’s military muscle, saying: “After being the ‘cute little submissive’ of the U.S. all these years, Manila has gained only a handful of second-hand weapons and an empty sense of security, let alone any real enhancement of its army’s combat capability.
“In the end, it has earned nothing but growing dependency on the U.S.”
Provocative act
The paper’s editorial came out the same day the U.S. State Department also criticized China’s latest aggressive stance against the Philippines as a “provocative act.”
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The U.S. is referring to an incident almost two weeks ago when Chinese patrolmen reportedly water-cannoned a group of Filipino fishermen inside the Panatag Shoal or Scarborough Shoal, an area disputed by both China and the Philippines.
Malacañan confirmed Monday (April 20) that China’s coast guard used water cannons to drive away the local fishermen, damaging some of their wooden boats.
Related: Ships ready to protect Pinoy fishermen vs. China
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said Tuesday that if reports that China used water cannons on Philippine fishing boats are accurate, it would be a “provocative act.”
“We are looking into these reports. I can’t independently confirm them, but if true, the use of water cannons against Philippine civilian vessels that have a long-standing practice of fishing in these waters – at Scarborough Reef or in other disputed areas of the South China Sea – would be a provocative act,” said Harf.
“It would represent a step backward in finding a diplomatic resolution to the dispute. Countries should not use force or coercion to support disputed territorial or maritime claims. We have continued to encourage South China Sea claimants to exercise restraint and to pursue diplomatic means to clarify their claims and to resolve disputes.”
PH reply
Meanwhile, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Wednesday (April 22) Malacañan does not agree with what Global Times has said about the Philippines in its editorial.
“We don’t understand where this insecurity of the Chinese towards us is coming from. Where do we have the wherewithal to compete against China as a superpower?” Lacierda said.
Malacañan’s dismay was practically echoed by Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Jose who also lambasted the insulting editorial today.
In a text message, Jose said: “Unable to defend both their unlawful position on the core issue, which is the 9-dash line claim and their unilateral and aggressive reclamation activities, our northern neighbor has reduced its lack of a response to name-calling once again.
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“What they should be doing is to immediately accord their positions and actions with the DOC and international law.”
China claims most of the potentially energy-rich South China Sea, with overlapping claims from the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
CNN Philippines’ Anjo Alimario and JC Gotinga contributed to this report.
