Uneasy is the peace over Spratlys - II

Since President Bush’ regime carried over to President Barack Obama, U.S.A. over-spent in housing loans unlimited that a time came when mortgaged homes went down the nadir of almost worthlessness. The aids or bailouts in million dollars doled out to US banks and giant corporations to save them from inevitable collapse were from Chinese credit to Uncle Sam. During the 1988 economic recession, China came to the rescue, such that, despite USA’s bloated debts reaching over $14 trillion, America was able to recover.

Precisely, despite the mutual defense treaty binding America to come to the aid of the Philippines in case of war, Uncle Sam weakly committed to help the Philippines by peaceful means. However, should the bellicose situation escalate into war with China over the Spratlys dilemma, or when push comes to shove militarily, USA shirked from getting involved.

Thus, appreciating fully the situation, President Aquino had to hold his hand in sheer haplessness, hoping for some diplomatic resolution of the critical and delicate enigma. Meantime, some rash Filipinos with “summer soldiers” mentality and short of foresight, or even common sense, have been quite vocal in condemning the President for alleged cowardice.

It even took guts for the motley Filipino soldiers manning the fort in Reed Bank in Kalayaan Islands, to remove the posts staked by the Chinese Navy as off-limits area. Frankly, no matter how these brave soldiers may later put up in a “slingshot versus cannons” future risk of war, their bravery amounts to nothing. Gone is the fictional or folklore of David slaying Goliath with a mere slingshot hitting Goliath on his eye.

All isn’t that hopeless, although success may be almost nil. Aside from China forcing its hegemony, and the puny Philippines, there are other countries with stakes in Spratlys, like, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The Philippines and these countries, have to submit this problem to the Security Council of the United Nations. There is a probability that like USA, most Security Council members are beholden to, or under the influence of, China over fiscal matters. But then, it is still worth taking the cudgels for peaceful resolution. These countries and the Philippines have to take up their common serious regional problem now.

The AFP armament and equipment are sordidly obsolete even for internal peace and order, much less for self-defense that would command respect. How many trillions of pesos have been wasted and stolen by the powerful generals? And, by the government corrupt set-up, like, all national departments and other agencies, the GOCCs, GFIs, and LGUs, including the barangays now, and all government agencies that easily reach trillion pesos.

Had the government pursued military modernization annually, say, having a couple of modernized submarines, modernized warships and a fleet of patrol boats, a couple of squadrons of late-model fighter planes and same number of fighter-helicopters, and other updated armaments, all for self-defense, countries like China would have observed due respect instead of taking us for granted. North and South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and other small European countries have respectable armaments for self-defense, which even more powerful countries are not running roughshod over them like helpless pawns.

While China is now sending its largest ship to patrol the South China Sea covering the Spratlys, it’s toning down the belligerent stance. Perhaps wiser heads of the Chinese Presidium have realized that their bullying is anathema to recognized diplomatic apercu and the international comity.

Lately, and acting like a fickle woman, Uncle Sam has changed by committing that the “US (is) ready to arm the Philippines”. US foreign Secretary Hillary Clinton who is close to Pres. Obama, boldly vowed, thus: “We are determined and committed to supporting the defense of the Philippines”. In its vow to “stand up to any aggressive action” vis-à-vis China over the Spratlys, USA will modernize the Philippine military. Hopefully, “to modernize” isn’t with already mothballed WW II warships vintage, and fighter planes, bombers, and helicopters, also in US military junk yards, which has been the usual extent of US military aid in the past.