Thread by @GordianKnotRay

1/My comments in this article mostly focused on the #Philippines' newly increased leverage in negotiations with #China. My full comments (including those left out of the article) follow: [1/6]

bworldonline.com/the-nation/202…

2/"Diplomacy is always important, especially in the face of increased tensions. However, reducing tensions should never be the sole objective in pursuing dialogue with China, which often uses bilateral talks to intimidate countries it sees as weak and easy to push around."
[2/6]

3/"The Marcos Administration, by its recent moves to embrace a bold new maritime transparency policy and to enhance its security relationships with partners like the U.S., Japan and Australia, has shown strength and given itself leverage for negotiations."
[3/6]

4/"Now it needs to keep building its leverage, and avoid trading it away for promises and assurances that have proven empty in the past."
[4/6]

5/"I’m sure the president and his senior officials have taken to heart the lessons learned by the previous administration, which gave China much of what it wanted by turning away from its U.S. alliance and downplaying its maritime concerns."
[5/6]

"Rather than rewarding this acquiescence by making concessions of its own, Beijing exploited the opportunity to further expand its presence in the West Philippine Sea."
[6/6 End]