June 9 marks the 50th anniversary of Philippines-China relations, ties steeped in history but marred by friction in recent years. Sadly, an overemphasis on the intractable sea dispute has polluted broader connections, stunting economic cooperation and stigmatising people-to-people exchanges. This is irrational and unproductive.
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For Manila to make the sea row front and centre of ties is a tragedy of its foreign policy. For China to see its smaller neighbour as a mere pawn in its great power competition with Washington is a recipe for misunderstanding; it lets down Beijing’s neighbourhood diplomacy.
Allowing security issues to dominate relations is neither wise nor strategic. Confining ties to maritime tensions, alleged spying and influence operations limits their scope and potential. Describing your big neighbour as an adversary can be a dangerous, self-fulfilling prophecy. Increasing pressure on a smaller neighbour may push it deeper into a rival’s embrace.
Other Southeast Asian coastal states with similar concerns assign less publicity to their sea rows and employ more effective strategies. Manila and Beijing should do better diplomacy.
First, there are many areas where the two can work together without compromising their positions. China is the world’s greatest economic miracle, lifting 800 million people out of poverty in four decades. It is the world’s largest consumer and tourism market, a rising investor, the biggest producer of renewable energy and electric vehicles, and a leading player in mineral processing.
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The Fortune Global 500 list last year had 133 Chinese companies, including three in the top 10. The State Grid Corporation of China, which has a 40 per cent stake in the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, is ranked third. Five of the top 10 Asian universities ranked by Times Higher Education are from mainland China. The South China Sea dispute should not crowd out partnerships in areas where China has made great strides.