The dangers of being too nice

Tense moment: Screengrab from a video released on Aug 8 showing a Chinese coast guard ship using a water cannon near a Philippine vessel. — China Coast Guard/Reuters

THE China Coast Guard attacked a Philippine Coast Guard vessel via water cannon on Aug 5 within the Philippine exclusive economic zone, the latest in a string of provocations and aggressions. How did we get to this point in the two countries’ diplomatic relations?

As always, I aim to provide a psychological or behavioural lens to Philippine national issues as my fellow columnists who are experts in law, political science, and diplomacy will do a much better job dissecting those aspects.