Not quite ‘good neighbourliness’

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte injected a note of realism into Monday’s virtual Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, presided over by Xi Jinping. Mr Duterte’s outraged response to the Chinese President’s claims about China being “ASEAN’s good neighbour, good friend and good partner” was well targeted and timed. It came after Mr Xi brazenly told leaders of the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countries: “China will never seek hegemony, still less bully smaller countries.” How Mr Xi managed to say that while keeping an impassive face is anyone’s guess. What is not in doubt is that it is a blatant lie and that every one of the ASEAN leaders knows it.

Mr Duterte’s immediate anger was over an outrageous assault last week by Chinese coastguard vessels that forced Philippine ships to retreat from a mission to resupply a Philippine military deployment on Ayungin Shoal, well within Manila’s economic exclusion zone in the South China Sea.

Mr Duterte’s fury was no surprise. Since taking office in 2016 he has sent more than 84 formal protest demarches to Beijing over its constant violations of The Philippines’ sovereignty. Other ASEAN members have done the same after being on the wrong end of Chinese bullying, coercion and threats to freedom of navigation through the South China Sea. Like Mr Duterte, they know Mr Xi’s claims of “good neighbourliness” and hegemonic innocence are delusional and could not be more remote from reality.

The Philippine President had the courage to speak out. When provoked, others across the region should do the same.