SUBIC BAY — Having been left behind in the regional race for military superiority, or at least comparative capability, the Philippines has to fall back on the universally accepted peaceful resolution of territorial conflicts with neighbors.

It was not surprising then that President Noynoy Aquino, faced with belligerent moves of China cementing its claim over the Spratly and other island groups in the South China Sea (aka West Philippine Sea), called for dialogue and diplomacy in resolving the disputes.

Playing catch-up, the long-neglected Philippine military now talks of modernization, of shifting priority from internal security to external threats. It is asking for billions to buy a big stick to give weight to Philippine diplomacy.

There is nothing as convincing as arguing from a position of strength.

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MODERNIZATION: But with the government being long on avowed intentions and short on appropriations, this renewed attempt at modernization is something to watch.

Way back in 1996, the Congress approved a joint resolution whereby its two chambers gave full support to RA 7898, known as the AFP Modernization Act.

Actually “modernization” is a misnomer. The armed forces is being given mere pittance to buy surplus materiel and retooled planes and ships, many of them looking like museum pieces before being refurbished and given a fresh coat of paint.

A little more than P10 billion has been made available, or a pitiful average of P1 billion per year since 1996, on top of the regular defense budget. A disproportionately big part has been spent for supplies, such as a mountain of paper and a sea of fuel whose usage nobody can explain.

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BONIFACIO DEAL: In 1995, during the term of then President Fidel V. Ramos, a private consortium became the development partner of the government’s Bases Conversion Development Authority for Fort Bonifacio.

Under the law, proceeds from the sale or privatization of military camps are to go to the modernization trust fund of the armed forces.

The government made P8 billion from the Fort Bonifacio deal. But it was not immediately made clear where the P8 billion went. Former President Ramos often got angry when asked about it.

It was only under the administration of Ramos’ successor, President Joseph Estrada, that modernization started receiving funds from the Fort Bonifacio transaction. And it was only in 2002 that the Congress started to appropriate money for modernization.

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BEIJING BULLYING: Suddenly aware of world opinion against bullying tactics, China has announced that it would not resort to force in resolving the conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea.

But before Beijing said that, it had sent six or seven unfriendly incursions from Feb. 25 to May 23 into the Recto (aka Reed) Bank some 80 nautical miles west of Palawan. The area is clearly within the country’s 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone defined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

In an apparent display of might and arrogance, Beijing announced days ago its plan to send a huge ship through the disputed Spratly area on its way to Singapore.

While the Philippines has been talking diplomacy and suggesting a multilateral approach to resolving the issue (also the mode suggested by Washington), China insists on bilateral talks with each of the counter-claimants.

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ENVOY TO CHINA: With the Spratly area suddenly turning into a flash point, drawing into the melee even the United States across the Pacific, these are trying times in Philippines-China relations.

Even then, it is not a time for saber-rattling or raising the decibels in a word war. These would only exacerbate an already tense situation. Besides, the Philippines is not in a position to play war games, even with Uncle Sam behind it.

What is needed is sobriety and diplomacy to defuse what some already smell as gunpowder in the air. It is imperative for Manila to send as envoy to Beijing someone who understands the complexity and nuances of Chinese culture.

Filial piety, the wisdom of elders and ties to a closely knit circle of friends who can vouch for one’s character and integrity are key elements in dealing with the Chinese. It means that what you know is not enough, but also who you know.

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LEE RIGHT CHOICE: President Aquino made the right choice in appointing Ambassador-designate Domingo Lee, who has the qualities that would make for a successful posting to Beijing.

Lee’s credentials — vast knowledge of Philippine-Chinese affairs and his firm grasp of Mandarin, the official language of the People’s Republic of China — would give him better rapport with the highest Chinese officials.

As a former special envoy for trade and investment to China and honorary trade and investment representative of the Department of Trade and Industry, Lee has his work cut out for him — which is principally to boost bilateral trade.

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ALTER EGO: Lee is only one of three political ambassadors named by the President since he came to office a year ago. The others are businessmen Jose Cuisia (to Washington) and Manolo Lopez (to Tokyo).

Usually, as campaign payback, a new president is wont to appoint so many political ambassadors, to the detriment of the career foreign service corps.

That President Aquino has already named 17 career ambassadors should show his respect for the career service.

There should be no serious internal objection in the foreign office, since a primordial consideration is that a sovereign’s envoy, who talks and act as his alter ego, must enjoy his trust and confidence.