Posted on 08/03/2020 12:45:07 PM PDT by RomanSoldier19
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte responded to criticisms about his unwillingness to act against Beijing over contested areas
He said their ability to wage war against the communist superpower is insufficient financially and in numbers of arms and troops
However, Duterte’s critics said they are not calling for war with China
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said his country could not afford to go to war against China in the South China Sea as he responded to critics of his unwillingness to act against Beijing over contested areas in the West Philippine and South China Seas.
CNN Philippines reported Duterte, speaking at his fifth State of the Nation Address on Monday said, "[Translated] So what can we do? We have to go to war. And I cannot afford it. Maybe some other President can, but I cannot. I am inutile (useless) in that aspect, I am telling you and I am willing to admit it. I am really inutile about that. I cannot do anything."
Duterte continued but veered away from his prepared speech. "Alam mo (You know), unless we are prepared to go to war, I would suggest that we better just call off and treat this, I said, with diplomatic endeavors."
Duterte said the archipelago’s capability to wage a military conflict against the communist superpower is insufficient financially and in numbers of arms and troops. "China is claiming it. We are claiming it. China has the arms; we do not have it. So, it's simple as that," he said.
One thing favoring the Philippines is that the rights to the Chinese-occupied areas are viewed by the international community as belonging to Manila. A 2016 ruling by the United Nation's Permanent Court of Arbitration recognized the Philippines' sovereign rights to some areas within its exclusive economic zone.
(Excerpt) Read more at ibtimes.com ...
Cuter te is a ChiCom boot licker.
Should this issue be solved by the others we(or the others) divy up the islands.
The Phillippines is a corrupt basket case of a nation that can’t defeat internal rebellion, much less take on China. Duarte has a point. They have no fighter planes, no Naval assets of even destroyer size. 7 tanks, no submarines. Their air force is mostly helicopters. There isn’t much they can do about China.
The Philippines does have to “go to war”.
However, its defense can be more proactive and aggressive forcing China to resort to military force, which will create an international firestorm and international support for the Philippines. Multi-nation sanctions on China could force China to back down, provided the sanctions hit China’s economic plans hard enough.
Duterte is correct: they literally cannot afford to go to war with China. War requires two parties capable of mounting some sort of offensive or defensive combat. China sure has that, but there would be no second party stepping up to the fight.
It would take the Philippines about 20 years and 10 times their annual GDP to build up a military capable of engaging in what one might even generously call a “war” with China. And that is not economically feasible. So they literally cannot AFFORD to go to war with China, even if armed conflict were to break out.
It should would be easier for him if the US was controlling Subic Bay and Clark AFB.
How much money were US troops contributing to the local economy?
File under, “Things to Not Say Out-loud.”
He’s quite correct the Philippine army and navy are not prepared to go to war against anybody.
But of course no one wants him to, and he has a powerful protector available in the United States.
Duterte unfortunately worships the communist Chinese, has thrown the doors open for them on numerous fronts, and has only been slightly restrained by his pro American generals.
Of course, the Philippines survived Japanese occupation until liberation by MacArthur. Duterte’s approach is cowardly and treasonous.
The Flips will be giving China access to Subic Bay and the former Clark AFB in 3...2...1..., if they don’t just give them to China outright.
Yet he renewed the Visiting Forces Agreement with the US.
Under duress by his own Senate and the overwhelming sentiments of the people. Almost against his will.
This bodes well for the future of US forces making good use of the most strategic archipelago in the South China Sea. That would allow US forces to bottle China into a limited geography, and never allowing them to strike from behind.
And would ensure freedom of navigation for $5T annual commerce.
The Philippine Air Force is antiquated. They can use the leftover bras of Imelda Marcos for skycaps.
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