“The meaning of peace is the absence of opposition to socialism.” – KEN ROBINSON.
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Wait a minute.
Is this true?
That the Armed Forces of the Philippines has a standing agreement with China for a military exchange program?
And, that the PNPA (Philippine National Police Academy) is also sending cadets to the Beijing Military Academy and other training institutions of the People’s Liberation Army?
The AFP exchange program was confirmed by Senior Defense Urdersecretary Irineo Espino per a published media report.
Don’t you guys find this situation amusing and baffling considering that we are suffering tensions sparked by the continuing Chinese aggression in the South China Sea (or West Philippine Sea).
Something is terribly wrong here.
Last Saturday, a Chinese Coast Guard used a water cannon to drive away Philippine boats.
As usual, a note verbale was sent by the Department of Foreign Affairs to the Chinese Amabassador in Manila.
This is a slap in the face to the Marcos government if it is not downright an insult to the national sanity.
Sens. Jinggoy Estrada, Raffy Tulfo and Francis Tolentino were quick to raise the alarm as the AFB brass has failed to make this military exchange public.
Was it supposed to be confidential?
The Philippines has a long standing accord embodied in the Mutual Defense Treay with the United States where
AFP officers are sent to West Point and the US Military for further studies and equipping.
What can China offer us that the AFP cannot learn from its US ally?
Estrada is surprised to learn of the China military exchange for the
first time. “I find this is very alarming that we are sending…encouraging our cadets and senior military officers to
Beijing,” the senator from San Juan City said during a senate hearing recently.
USec. Espino clarified that only AFP officers with the rank of lieutenant colonel or higher can vail of the yearlong training in Beijing.
Espino was quick to add that he is not aware if PMA cadets were also undergoing training in the Chinese military school.
Tulfo noted that the military agreement seemed to be part of Chinese strategy. “That’s part of China’s promoting her influence globally.”
Tulfo noted that the program could even allow the PLA to infiltrate the Philippine military hierarchy.
I agree. This is quite feasible.
The Chinese have been very generous with us in granting the government loans for this and that project. They have even grant freebies without asking for anything in return – yet.
Toleinto, for his part, is quizzical about why the PMA does not anymore accept cadets from the US.
Has the Philippine government bitten off China’s generosity more than it could chew?
How long will the nation endure the Chinese rude conduct in a region which is originally ours?
Are the Chinese trying to run out our patience and force us to commit a faux pas that the Philippines will be
grievously sorry for afterwards?
There is a limit to everything.
One cannot be kind to a fault forever.
We are a civil nation that respects rules and observes international laws.
China, from what we have seen and observe, is toying with us because we are a small defenseless country.
China is waiting for the Philippine to either agree to bilateral talks on the issues affecting the WPS or be forever on the defensive as military structures are constructed in many islands and reefs in the so-called nine dash line claimed by the PROC as theirs.
Are we capable of going to war?
No. We are not.
Whether the US will fulfill their obligations under the MDF, we still cannot go to war and risks millions of innocent lives.
China need not even send ground troops to defeat us.
All the Chinese military will do is press a button in the comfort of their war room and: voila!
ICBMs will in five to ten minutes erase our country from the face of this planet.
(In my research, i read somewhere that ICBMs from Russia can reach the US in just 15 minutes time.)
Pragmatism is a fallback we cannot ignore. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com). GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!