Read this in The Manila Times digital edition.
IT will be wiser for the Philippines when dealing with the West Philippine Sea issue or the Philippine-China relations as a whole, not to base its responses solely on policy positions publicly issued by the Chinese government. Policy directions adopted at the level of the Communist Party of China will give the Philippines a more accurate picture of Chinese intentions. In China, even its government is under the absolute influence of the party.
The aggressive character of China's official attitude toward the Philippines will be difficult to change. The geographic position and the perceived weakness of the Philippines both politically and militarily make the Philippines a desired stepping stone to the grand design of the current party chief to dominate its neighboring region. The fundamental shift to have China as a peaceful and considerate neighbor will unlikely happen until a new leadership with less ambition to dominate the world assumes control of the Communist Party of China.
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