Abandoned by Biden, Philippines surrenders shoal to China

The Chinese Communist Party represents by far the most serious threat of all global threats to security and prosperity. Under Xi Jinping , China seeks to replace a U.S.-led democratic international order built around the rule of law with a feudal mercantilist order led by China — an order in which the peace, trade, politics, and other concerns of nations are dependent upon obedience to Beijing.

It's critical, then, that the United States resist Chinese efforts to advance this agenda. Unfortunately, the U.S. is manifestly failing to do so in the South China Sea.

That's the lesson from the Philippines 's decision to withdraw a coast guard vessel, Teresa Magbanua, from the Sabina Shoal. That shoal is 90 miles west of the Philippines, well within Manila's exclusive economic zone. It is 730 miles southeast of China's Hainan Island. But as with the near entirety of the South China Sea, China absurdly claims the shoal as part of its sovereign territory.

The Chinese coast guard had been actively harassing the Teresa Magbanua, preventing her resupply and leading to her crew's declining health. That left President Ferdinand Marcos's government with a choice between using force to break the de facto Chinese blockade or withdraw its ship. Absent U.S. military support, Marcos had little choice but to order withdrawal. While the Philippines says it will send another vessel to the shoal, the Chinese coast guard will do everything possible to obstruct that ship.

China has noticed the Biden administration's unwillingness to provide the Philippines with the U.S. Navy escort that would have allowed for Teresa Magbanua's replenishment. That matters because the only way that China will stop ramming, water cannon/high-intensity laser attacking, and otherwise harassing the Philippines's vessels is if the U.S. military threatens to stop it from doing so.

Yet whether it's the Sabina Shoal, the Scarborough Shoal or any other area of the Philippines's exclusive economic zone, President Joe Biden has been unwilling to take robust action. While he needs to send Navy destroyers to escort the Philippines's vessels, Biden settles for statements condemning China. How this comports with Biden's inaugural address pledge to be a "strong and trusted partner for peace, progress, and security" is left unexplained

China has understood well the lesson flowing from Biden's inaction.

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Facing absent consequences for its imperialist aggression, China is escalating said aggression. It wants to dominate the South China Sea so that anyone who travels through or trades in these waters is dependent upon Beijing's to be able to keep doing so. Considering the $3 trillion in annual trade flows and the rich energy and fisheries that define these waters, China has good reason to maintain its pressure.

Why not when the commander in chief of the only military capable of deterring Chinese action is sleeping on the beach?