War is failure of diplomacy they say. The Philippines and China is one in declaring, war is not an option. Diplomatic settlement is the way. Yet, even if diplomacy is still war in muffled masquerade. Both sides sent in their best diplomats to the negotiating table. Thus the saber- rattlings had for a time become inaudible.
What many observers can feel by now are lots of arm-twisting in the diplomatic backdoor. This maybe is what diplomacy is all about, twisting the arms and neck of your neighbor without letting him notice it. Philippines diplomat Albert del Rosario must be feeling the hurt this time but still managed to smile. Its his job anyway.
I can feel the situation the diplomat is in. One morning I was jogging in our village when a big grumpy-looking bulldog came out of the open gate of a big house barking at me! The kind of diplomacy I applied? Ok...friend... go easy... slowly... don't bite... I am friend. clicking my fingers as if offering food and friendship to the beast but at the same time looking for a stick.
Anyway, some time somehow one has to give way. The Philippines has openly admitted, it won't go to armed conflict with China for obvious reasons and China won't either, a war could setback and delay its transforming economic prosperity. Thus peace is the ulterior motive of both. The recent consultative talk at the diplomatic table is expected to lead both sides to disengage without losing face.
At the end of the day the standoff could just be losing face and saving face.
Philippines is nothing against China in war. Philippines really need the help of America to fix this problem against China about the territorial dispute to Panatag shoal.
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