THIS will be the disturbing headline before the year is over. Another Philippine real estate under the flag of the People’s Republic of China. One more successfully constructed military outpost, to make the exclamation point. The blue-print for the “creeping invasion”, borrowing the first alarm by then Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado, was in hibernation until the appointed time most auspicious.
Gratis to a Philippine Senate which in 1992 audibly rejected the very treaty to maintain two US Military Facilities in the country. Moved by the stirring to bare their chest for national pride, emotion predisposed in the forefront over long-term considerations, other colleagues inclined to the noise or bent for anti-American rhetoric, said decision failed of vision, and has precisely brought the Republic to this point.
I knew it back then, in the manner one could predict the ribald political promises and legislation of an AFP Modernization Fund inadequate and later failing to provide the national defense required of a country totally stripped of any credible, effective and internationally respectable defense force. The funding, to my mind a “Consuelo de bobo”.
With the same braggadocio, because our great legislators pride was pricked, they exacted bragging rights to be lionized in history, to have kicked-out the Americans! The saying goes, a State is not a State if it cannot protect its borders. A nation is not country, if it cannot defend its people. If one were to chart the year the US Facilities left the Philippines (target practicing on Scarborough Shoal) to the present, one can see the line clearly declining, in our ability to protect national territory.
Whatever “self-pride” we have today is unenforceable. Kudos the Kalayaan Youth who dare against the red flag! The victory we garnered from the recent international case and judgment over WPS, were they just push-ups, since in the end we would be hurried to mutually divide Philippine resources with China? On April 27, 1521, Datu Lapu-Lapu vs a Western conqueror, never perceived diplomacy, negotiation, or warfare in conventional terms. If he did, on the beach of Mactan, he would have simply waived the white flag! (Erik Espina)
WELL SAID. I TOTALLY AGREE. SENATORS LIKE SANTIAGO SHOULD BE TRIED FOR TREASON. HOW ARE THEY NOW RESISTING CHINA’S TAKING OF PHILIPPINES TERRITORY. HOW IS SOVEREIGNTY HELPING THE HAPLESS FILIPINO FISHERMEN BEING SHOOED BY CHINA. THEY ARE BEING FORCED OUT OF THEIR PLACE OF LIVELIHOOD. HOW IS THEIR “PRIDE CHICKEN” FIGHTING OFF THE BULLY… NOW YOU NEED THE AMERICANS. YOU SHOULD LET THEM BACK FOR FREE.
Don’t blame it to previous senators, the blame are all upon us Filipinos, while groups of activists was pressured the law makers by protesters and media rallies to displace US bases, most of us done nothing but just watched them removed. What if most of us done something by gathering assembly that would offset protesters and express these consequences. will that be more effective, than blaming politicians and doing nothing.
As an American, I DON’T want to keep any U.S. bases in Asia or in Europe. It puts our troops at risk, and encourages you guys to rely on us too much – this is bad because you do not prepare to defend yourselves.
If Philippines can go back to history, that would effectively resolved this conflict. It should be after world war 2, when every Asian nation was still delineating each sea borders. If only Philippines was already submit this sea dispute case to PCA in late 1940’s. Asian would have been more stable and friendly states than what it is today.
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