BEIJING: The Philippines is nothing more than the “cute little submissive” of the United States, a Chinese tabloid with close ties to the ruling Communist Party said on Tuesday, criticising Manila for military exercises with Washington.

The English-language editorial came a day after the Philippines launched giant 10-day war games with the US and Australia, partly aimed as a warning shot to Beijing amid competing claims in the South China Sea, home to vital shipping routes.

“Of all the countries involved in territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the Philippines is the one with the most tricks up its sleeves, but none of its tricks work,” the Global Times said.

“Can anyone believe that China can be bluffed to make compromises when others show off their military muscle?” added the paper, affiliated with the Communist Party mouthpiece the People’s Daily.

“We will simply find it laughable while imagining Philippine personnel stumbling after US forces.” Beijing claims sovereignty over most of the resource-rich and strategically important South China Sea, including areas close to other Asian nations, using vague demarcation lines that first appeared on Chinese maps in the 1940s.

China has expanded its presence in disputed parts of the sea in recent years by embarking on giant reclamation work on reefs and islets, turning some into islands capable of hosting military aircraft landing strips.

The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2015

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