The Philippines has to prove itself to the world.
And people should stop deluding themselves that should China fire its big guns in the West Philippine Sea, Uncle Sam will send in the marines.
From all angles, US President Barack Obama’s carefully crafted rhetoric points to the fact that Uncle Sam has a different take on the issue with China.
It views the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea as strategic to American interests, in the same way that the US views its trade relations with China as equally important.
It was clear that the US is comfortable with a diplomatic solution to the dispute. In unequivocal terms, the US supports the Philippines case, questioning China’s 9-dash line territorial assertion before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea.
Many were disappointed by Obama’s skirting of the issue. Big words like ‘ironclad’, ‘strongest ally’ naturally did not satisfy those who are under the illusion that GI Joe will come marching to boot out Limahong’s predecessors out of our national territory.
Many still harbor the illusion that Uncle Sam will unleash Captain America like it did when Iraq tried to annex Kuwait and advance to Saudi Arabia in 1991.
No, there will be no Desert Storm-like mobilization in the West Philippine Sea should the Chinese start firing (God forbid) their big guns on the Philippine Navy’s paper boats.
While the US needs the Philippines to continue its influence in this side of the Asia Pacific, American foreign policy has not really changed in its view that their little brown brothers are strategically located.
And that is about it.
Unlike Kuwait or Saudi Arabia, the Philippines does not supply fossil fuel to the US.
Looking up to the US for military support is not only embarrassing as a people, it is most unpatriotic.
While we do need assistance from big brother to develop the capacity of the country’s external defense, it is not the Americans’ or any other country’s primary responsibility to develop our armed forces.
For one, the Philippine government should seriously address issues hindering the full rolling out of the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
High in the list of issues is corruption. If government plugs corruption at all levels, the Philippine pie will be bigger. The Napoles scam is an excellent example of how funds like the Malampaya fund which could have been used to buy another warship to augment the decrepit Philippine Navy ended up in a bathtub somewhere in Metro Manila.
Also, corruption in the AFP itself should be addressed. Open the can of worms, even it means digging the grave of a former chief of staff who committed suicide at the height of an investigation on corruption in the country’s uniformed service.
Corruption makes the Philippine state weak. External help does not make our state strong, but only highlights that weakness.