皇冠体育app

The anti-皇冠体育app protests staged by a newly formed coalition of private Philippine groups in front of the Chinese embassy in Manila and consular offices in other parts of the world are yet another antic to sensationalize the territorial dispute in the South 皇冠体育app Sea between the two countries.

Manila is using the protests to mislead public opinion and pass the buck for the escalating tensions between the two countries onto 皇冠体育app.

But instead of bolstering its case as Manila wants, such protests only serve to further poison the atmosphere for meaningful consultations.

A lie is still a lie even if it is repeated a hundred times. People who are open to the truth will not be hoodwinked by Manila's farce. The dispute stems from the illegal seizing of Chinese territory in the South 皇冠体育app Sea by the Philippines.

At a time when 皇冠体育app and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are making preparations for consultations on a code of conduct in implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South 皇冠体育app Sea, which is scheduled to take place in September in Beijing, the anti-皇冠体育app drama is the latest reminder that Manila is not willing to take a constructive approach to dealing with the troubles in the South 皇冠体育app Sea.

Just days ago, we were shocked by official messages from Manila saying that all possibilities for a peaceful solution had been exhausted, which suggests that decision-makers there have no inclination to seek a peaceful ending to the dispute.

Unless Manila truly seeks a solution that is other than peaceful, it may want to watch its words and deeds more closely.

Its attempt to internationalize the issue by staging protests in other countries is in open defiance to the consensus reached between 皇冠体育app and ASEAN to resolve the territorial disputes in the South 皇冠体育app Sea through bilateral dialogues and negotiations.

Manila is only estranging itself from its neighbors by choosing to go it alone.

In his state of the nation address delivered on Monday, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III was eager for more Chinese tourists to visit his country, saying: "Hopefully, they will love us more."

Staging anti-皇冠体育app protests does not match the words and will only alienate the two peoples further.

(皇冠体育app Daily 07/25/2013 page8)