Asia-Pacific Report: South China Sea dispute makes Vancouver appearance

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 VANCOUVER SUN JULY 26, 2015

 

 

 

 

A 2014 photo taken by surveillance planes and released by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs shows a Chinese vessel working to expand structures and land in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

Part of covering Metro Vancouver’s interaction with Asia-Pacific countries entails attending cultural events hosted by the various diplomatic missions in the city — many, many of them.

These events are typically presentations by the host country of either: 1) the unique charms of its native culture; 2) the friendship it enjoys with Canada; or 3) both of the above. These are expressed a number of ways, but some sort of dancing, singing, stage shows or food exhibits are the mainstays.

For the most part, these demonstrations are not overtly political. Diplomatic missions are usually tasked with smoothing relations, not riling them up.

Earlier this month, however, one such performance carried a message, demonstrating the depth of concern on one particular issue — and how it will likely continue to be raised in the West (including here in Canada).

Titled “My Country”, the Vietnamese event held on July 16 at the Playhouse had the expected list of traditional dances and songs, and also threw in a mini fashion show, sand-painting demonstrations and circus acrobatics. It was undoubtedly impressive; seeing an elite gymnast doing a headstand on the head of another acrobat while the latter walks up a flight of stairs is incredible.

But the event also included a message: In the background video during the show’s opening and closing, a map of Vietnam was displayed. Prominently included on the map, and including the Vietnamese names of “Truong Sa” and “Hoang Sa”, were two groups of islands in the South China Sea. They are the Spratly and Paracel Islands (known as Nansha and Xisha in Chinese), disputed territory often cited as the source of tension between China and its neighbours to the south.

To drive the point home, the show ended with a performance of the song “The Fatherland Calls Us”, with dancers mimicking naval officers and ships while pictures from the islands and Vietnamese naval forces flashed in the background. Even for someone who doesn’t speak the language, the message was loud and clear.

The South China Sea dispute was in world headlines recently when Beijing began constructing artificial islands in the region. In response, the Philippines, the most vocal critic of China’s maritime claims, sent Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario to The Hague to organize international opposition.

“The Philippines has long placed its faith in the rules and institutions that the international community has created to regulate relations among states,” del Rosario said in a speech on July 7. “Its organs, coupled with the power of international law, serve as the great equalizer among states, allowing countries, such as my own, to stand on an equal footing with wealthier, more powerful states.”

As with the images during the Vietnamese show, it appears that no one is backing down in the dispute. And as Washington wades deeper into the debate (U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel said the United States is “not neutral when it comes to adhering to international law”), it appears that tensions are not going to lessen.