Members of a non-governmental group China Patriotic Association protest alongside fishermen from Pingdong, Taiwan outside the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei on May 13. The pictured banner reads “Chinese mainland and Taiwan should join to urge the Philippines to apologize for the death of the fisherman and offer compensation.” Photo: China News Service

 
The Philippine representative to Taiwan Antonio Basilio arrived in Taiwan yesterday. According to Taiwan media, the Philippines agreed to Taiwan's requirements including an apology and punishing those responsible.

However, it has not officially agreed on the compensation claims leaving its final attitude unclear.

The Philippine government's reaction to the barbaric shooting incident has proved one thing: as an irresponsible country which behaves clumsily in foreign affairs, the Philippines is digging itself into a deeper hole with a rogue diplomatic policy.

The Philippines, which seems addicted to messing up the situation in the South China Sea, is notorious for the use or threat of force in dealing with maritime conflicts.

Before this shooting incident, several fishing clashes happened between the Philippines and Taiwan. But it was always the latter that suffered casualties and loss of property.

Since the May 9 shooting incident, the Philippines has been humming and hawing, giving no definite reply. Under increasing pressure from both Taiwan and the mainland, the Philippine government shielded its barbarous act by confounding the public and wittering on about the "one-China policy."

It is an absurdity that the Philippines is trying to deflect the issue to a new argument about which one is more qualified to have a high-level contact with the Philippine government.

Manila should keep in mind that although the mainland and Taiwan are in a special relationship, they will definitely join hands to crack down on any encroachment on the shared interests of the Chinese people. It is simply a useless attempt to further politicize and complicate the issue.

The Philippines should also clarify its position when tussling with great powers.

As a country whose best warship has been in active service for 45 years, the Philippines is no match for Taiwan in terms of military power, let alone the Chinese mainland.

But with the backing of Japan and the US, which always seek to keep their fingers on the pulse of the South China Sea, the Philippines has been emboldened and has become a bully.

It seems that Manila has failed in the geopolitical arena while learning how to cope with its neighbors. It is probable that if Manila continues to be a wheeler-dealer for petty political interests, that it will be marginalized in South China Sea. The hole it digs will be used to bury itself.