RP are buying arms as fast as they can. They have just received Israeli SAM systems, Indian-Russian antiship missiles, Korean Frigates, etc. Much more is coming. The arms purchasing budget is 7x what was in Dutertes time.
Thats a huge change in Philippine defense posture.
Agreed entirely, however, RP needs loads of asymmetric capability - it cannot possibly go up against China by only “conventional” means.