The United States is here to stay

While the President is busy with the war on illegal drugs, China is busy continuing its illegal construction activities in the disputed maritime areas in the West Philippine Sea. Fresh satellite images released by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) are showing concrete hangars at Panganiban, Fiery Cross and Subi reefs. Clearly, the militarization of these islands will not stop.

The Chinese continue to defy the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s July 12 ruling that invalidated China’s “historic” claim on almost the whole South China Sea, and have displayed even more defiant behavior as evidenced by the Chinese Defense Minister’s call to prepare for a “people’s war at sea” in the name of “sovereignty.” This was followed by live-fire exercises by the Chinese Navy to test the assault capability and speed of troops for “information technology-based war at sea.”

Japan has issued a formal protest over China’s installation of radar equipment on an offshore gas-drilling platform located in disputed areas in the East China Sea. Intelligence data show the radars are the kind used on patrol vessels – fueling suspicions that the platforms are actually military stations in disguise.

While China may seem appreciative of Philippine initiatives to engage in discussions – with our special envoy FVR flying to Hong Kong as initial steps to reduce tension and explore cooperation, it is clear that China’s aggression has not relented, sending Su-30 jet fighters and H-6K bombers to patrol the waters around Scarborough and the Spratlys, along with the presence of Chinese Coast Guard vessels. Our poor Filipino fishermen are helpless and have no choice but to stay away from these rich fishing grounds.

The military installations built by the Chinese in disputed territories have also made Vietnam anxious over the vulnerability of its island defenses, which is why Vietnam has moved several rocket launchers into position. The mobile launchers can reportedly strike the Chinese runways and military installations, and while they are as yet unarmed, it will only take two days to get them ready with rocket artillery rounds.

Intelligence operatives are convinced the situation is getting far more serious, especially since China has made no bones that its “bigness” makes it superior over its smaller Asian neighbors. The Chinese have been making provocative statements starting with a Chinese Foreign Ministry official boasting that “China is a big country and Asian nations are small countries, and that is a fact.”

That is why no matter how big a country you are or how strong your military may be to counter any potential foreign threat, alliances with other nations are significant and crucial. China has kept claiming it had the support of over 40 countries regarding its position in the South China Sea dispute – when in fact, only a handful of mostly African nations expressed support, while four even denied China’s claims. (North Korea seems to be the only solid ally of Beijing in Asia.)

China has also been stepping up its ties with Russia, and the two countries are set to conduct a joint military exercise dubbed as “Joint Sea in the South China Sea” this September. If one could recall, Chinese President Xi Jinping was guest of honor in May last year during Russia’s celebration of the 70th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II. In return, Russian President Vladimir Putin was also given a special place of honor at Tiananmen Square when China celebrated the 70th year marking Japan’s defeat in World War II.

At last Thursday’s meeting with President Duterte and Foreign Secretary Jun Yasay, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida reiterated Japan’s commitment to support the Philippines’ efforts to improve its maritime security capabilities and protect its territorial waters. Japan is providing two large, brand new multi-role coast guard ships in addition to 10 mid-sized vessels set for delivery next week.

At the private meeting, we are told the Japanese minister reminded the president that the United States is still a very important ally of Japan and the Philippines – and with good reason. The alliance between US and the Philippines runs deep and has become stronger over the years, especially on people-to-people ties as evidenced by the four million Filipino-Americans living in America and the fact that 90 percent of Filipinos approve of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

Lets face it, our best allies would still be the US, Japan and Australia – the countries that issued a strongly worded trilateral statement urging China and the Philippines to abide by the PCA ruling, expressing “strong opposition” to coercive actions and warning all to “refrain from such actions as large-scale reclamation and the construction of outposts as well as the use of those outposts for military purposes.”

No one can argue that despite the challenges it is faced with, the United States is still the most powerful nation in the world. Our sources tell us a squadron of new F-35 fighter jets is now combat ready – which should send a “powerful message to America’s friends and foes alike,” said US Air Force Lt. General Chris Bogdan, the executive officer of the F-35 Lightning II program.

Despite the recent stinging remarks of President Duterte against the US Ambassador, the Philippines’ “strong alliance with America” will continue. The US together with Japan and Australia are still our best bet in deterring Chinese expansionism. The 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the United States has endured over time. As one retired intelligence operative told us, “Presidents come and go, including diplomats – but the US-Philippine alliance is here to stay.”

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