Cooperation needed as China won't back down - experts

With no end in sight to China's aggressive actions in regional waters which it supports with disinformation, neighboring nations and allies that follow the rule of law should respond by further strengthening their cooperation and partnerships.

- MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN

This was the consensus among participants of a forum on Japan-Philippines strategic cooperation last Friday organized by the Stratbase Institute.

"If like-minded countries will cooperate against China, if all of us could enhance the level (of cooperation) against China, the cost on China will be so much. That means China will feel larger costs if they continue to adopt its aggressive attitude towards us," China studies expert and University of Tokyo professor Dr. Shin Kawashima said.

Beijing, he said, is expected to continue pursuing its policy of intimidation and spreading of disinformation and false narratives in asserting its illegal claims in the West Philippine Sea, Senkaku Islands and Taiwan.

"China will not stop their operations. Maybe they will slow down temporarily but from a long-term view, China will not stop, especially given their strong strategy to go beyond the First Island Chain," he said.

The Chinese, through its coast guard, escalated tensions in 2024 by firing water cannons at Philippine vessels, ramming some of them and aiming military-grade laser at their crew.

In one instance, China coast guard crew even boarded a Philippine boat and destroyed its navigational and communications equipment.

In Japan, approximately 1,300 Chinese government ships swarmed the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands, marking a record high for the third consecutive year.

In the same year, over 3,000 Chinese military aircraft breached Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone, setting another new record.