Mabuti naman at sinabi ni US Defense Secretary Robert Gates Jr. na walang posisyon ang Amerika sa problema sa Spratlys kasi akala kasi ng maraming Pilipino na kapag magkagulo sa Spratlys laban sa China, kakampihan tayo ng mga Amerikano.
Wala tayong maasahan sa mga Kano, yan ang katotohanan.
Ito ang sinabi ni Gates sa press conference kahapon sa Camp Aguinaldo pagkatapos ng pag-uusap niya kay Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro: “There are a number of security challenges and obviously concerns on conflicting claims in the South China Sea, the United States takes no position on those claims, we only urge all of the parties involved to try and resolve these issues clearly, peacefully.”
Tinanong din si Gates tungkol sa Visiting Forces Agreement na binabatikos ng mga progresibong organisasyon at sabi niya comportable daw sila sa VFA. Dapat lang dahil nagagamit nila sa proteksyun ng kanilang mga sundalo kahit na binabastos na ang batas ng Pilipinas na pinapayagan naman ang ating mga opisyal.
Ang relasyon pangseguridad ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos ay nakabase sa 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty o MDT. Ito ang isang provision ng MDT: “Each party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific Area on either of the parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common danfers in accordance with its constitutional process.”
Sa unang basa mo, maaring sasabihin mo na ang pinagkasunduan ay kung magkagulo sa Spratlys dahil limang bansa ang nag-aangkin ng mga isla doon kasama na ang Pilipinas, China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, at Brunei makiki-alam ang Amerika.
Sinasabi kasi ng China na pagmamay-ari nila ang buong South China Sea at talagang nag-iingay sila kapag tinutulak ng ibang ibang bansa ang kanilang pagmamay-ari sa mga sila doon. Inukupa nila ang Mishief Reef na ina-angkin ng Pilipinas. Ilang beses na naggirian doon sa Spratlys na mga tropa ng Intsik ang sangkot.
Akala natin, kapag may gulo doon sa Spratlys at sangkot ang Pilipinas at China kakampihan tayo ng U.S dahil sa MDT. Klaro ang sabi ni Gates: wala silang posisyon.
Hindi tayo kakampihan ng U.S laban sa China dahil malaki ang pakinabang nila sa mga Intsik. Ang laking negosyo ang binibigay ng China sa Amerika. Katiting lang ang Pilipinas.
Ang VFA, ang nagbibigay ng legalidad ng pagpunta dito sa Pilipinas ng mga sundalong Amerikano para sa mga Balikatan exercises at iba pang aktibidades, ay implementasyon ng MDT.
Kaya lang, isipin natin, ano ba ang banta sa ating seguridad? Kung hindi natin maasahan ang Amerika sa Spratlys, saan nila tayo tutulungan? Ano ang pakinabang natin sa VFA?
Nawala sa atin ang Orchid Island at napunta sa china(ROC),wala tayong nagawa..Nawala sa atin ang Sabah at napunta sa malaysia wala tayong nagawa hanggang sa spratly pa kaya….ano ba yan..
Well,china has a habit of stealing territories look at what happened to Paracel Islands of Vietnam….
Ano ang pakinabang natin sa VFA? – Ellen
Ewan ko. Itanong natin kay Gens. Cedo at Esperon.
Well VFA is for keeping the philippines as a puppet of USA.
Don’t believe what Uncle Sam says. He always only thinks about his business and military interest even if he has to get rid of a duly elected leader. History tells us…
VFA means Very in Favor of America.
Nasusuklam ako sa VFA….
Hindi talaga tayo ipagtatanggol ni Uncle Sam dahil takot sila sa nuclear capability ng China. Alam ng mga kaaway ng Amerika ang Achilles’ Heel nito: EMP (electromagnetic pulse) mula sa Nuke Bomb. Wala sila panangga o depensa laban dito. Ang North Korea lang hindi nila kayang gapuin, China pa kaya? Read more:
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/06/01/rogue-nation-nuke-the-ultimate-ied
Mas malaki ang pakinabang ng US sa China..For one thing hindi nagpapalimos ang mga intsik..kung tumatanggap man ang mga ito ng Social Security Benefits..they worked for it..I don’t think there are that many Chinese senior citizens getting in line for SSI or for food pantries..I don’t think there are Chinese bums na nagkakalat sa kalye sa 34th St….marunong sila mahiya..
Panalangin ng Sambayanang Pilipino:
Panginoon malugod po kaming lumalapit sa IYO at nananalangin na hipuin MO po ang mga KAISIPAN, KALOOBAN, DAMDAMIN, BUDHI, PUSO, KALULUWA, at KONSENSIYA ng mga tinatawag naming mga LINGKOD BAYAN (The President, The Vice President, Government Officials and Employees, Baranggay Officials, Cabinet Members, Congressmen, Senators, Policitician, etc. etc. etc.) na nawa’y isabuhay po nila ang tunay na kahulugan nang pagiging isang LINGKOD BAYAN (PUBLIC SERVANT) at nawa’y maibahagi po nila at isakrispisyo ang kanilang mga YAMAN, KARANGYAAN, AT KASAGANAAN SA BUHAY para po sa ikagiginhawa ng Sambayanan Pilipino at sa ikauunlad ng minamahal naming bansang Pilipinas.
Kung nagawa po Ninyong isakripisyo ang nag-iisa Ninyong Anak na si Hesukristo para po sa kaligtasan ng sangkatauhan, sana ay magawa din po ito ng mga tinatawag naming mga LINGKOD BAYAN na tapat na SUMUMPA NA MAGLILINGKOD sa Pamahalaan ng bansang Pilipinas at paglilingkuran po nila ang sambayanang Pilipino.
Kung nagawa po Ninyong ihabilin ang sangkatauhan kay Inang Birheng Maria kahit Kayo ay kasalukuyang naghihirap habang nakapako sa krus dahil sa dakila ninyong pagmamahal sa sanlibutan, sana ay magawa din ng mga tinagurian naming mga LINGKOD BAYAN ang Inyong ginawa na kahit na ang sarili nilang KALIGAYAHAN, KAYAMANAN, KARANGYAAN AT KASAGANAAN SA BUHAY ay handang ibahagi sa Sambayanang Pilipino.
Oh.. Panginoong naming Pinakamakapangyarihan sa lahat, dinggin mo po ang aming mga panalangin.
Amen
Mas malaki ang pakinabang ng US sa China.. -Rose
Nakakalungkot pero totoo. Kaya nga takot ang Amerika na hindi na sila pauutangin ng China kapag sumali ito sa away ng Pinas at Tsina sa mga nasabing isla sa South China Sea. Nakadipende kasi ngayon ang economy ng Tate sa mga pautang ng China.
http://www.alternet.org/workplace/133251/china_hates_us_–_how_much_longer_will_they_back_our_debt-ridden_economy
Noong araw..ang hinahanap sa atin nabibihin ay ang tatak
..Made in USA.. and aywaw bumili (lalo na sa toys ) kung ang tatak Made in Japan (madali daw masira)..pero mas mura sng Made in Japan..na talo ang US..Noong dumating ako dito sa US mayroon ma akong nakikita na mga damit lalo na Children’s clothes (smocking pa) na Made In the Philippines..ayaw ko pang bumili kasi gawa sa atin.. but my American friends found them beautiful..na wala ang Made in PI, pinalitan ng Made in India..pero ang lahat ng bilihin halos from clothes to housewares, furniture,etc ay Made In China..everything we touch in stores ang tatak ay made in China..and it seems they are here to stay…
Noong 1997 umuwi ako and one of my uncles took me country club hopping…sa Zambales sa dating base, ang mga naglalaro ng golf ay mga singkit mata and the caddies were Filipinos..sa swimming pool ang mga nagsuswiming ay singkit mata ang yaya ay Filipinas..we went to Puerto Azul ganoon din, sa Dasmarinas, Cavite, sa Orchard ganoon din..Nagcomment ako sa isang pinsan..bakit? we were under Spain for 400 years, under US from 1889 to 1941 then Japanese 1941 to 1944..then back to US ok lang kasi there was war..pero ngayon tapos na ang guerra..under pa rin tayo sa ibang lahi.bakit? ang sagot niya sa akin..”that is globalization”.. sa ngayon mas mahirap ang bayan..bakit? kung sa bagay US educated ang reyna..kaya tatak Maid in US?..
I just hope in the coming years God forbid she remains in power..hindi maging Maid in China or Maid in Korea ang mangyari..
America “cannot afford” to meddle in the Spratly business.
She has too much on her plate to even contemplate getting involved.
America will very likely get involved in a show of force if Taiwan is directly threatened by China but not over the Spratlys.
The Spratlys do not represent US interests or put more crudely, the US does not give a shit about RP interests in the Spratlys.
But there is an absolute need for a weak and US influenced area in the region, eg., the Philippines, as this gives them an entry point and a secure base in Asia. The need for Taiwan becomes apparent as it focusses Chinese aspirations on an island in Asia and reduces the USA to a secondary issue.
America will not intervene in the Spratly dispute even if it’s between RP & China.
Moreover, while RP & China (and other claimants) “battle” over the Spratlys, America will be happy. Why? Because the Chinese won’t have the time to battle the US! Think about it.
Think about it!
And that’s what we call America’s forward defence with a vengeance.
The Spratlys are not vital to the defense of the United States.
David Low, the English cartoonist, once drew a famous cartoon showing the nations in a large rowboat. The European nations were at one end of the boat, which was foundering in the water; Uncle Sam sat in the other end, high and dry and out of the water. And Uncle Sam was saying, “Why should I worry? The leak isn’t in my end of the boat”
Kasi talagang ganoon ang states kailangan natin magkaisa kung ayaw natin mawala ang spratly…
Mumbaki: tama ka..kailangan natin maging united..to show, prove and protect our sovereignty. I am just wondering-kung ang ating military leaders (kasama na dian ang Chief of staff) ay umaasa lagi sa US financially,,arms, supplies, leadership etc. are they not being mercenary?
Hindi daw makiki-alam ang US sa Spratley’s? Weird yun ha!?
Napadaming hudyong mason diyan na mahilig sa pera at kapangyarihan. Sila nga nagpipindot ng remote control para sa mga utak ng mga lider na gahaman, ganid at sakim.
Sandamukal kaya ang black gold sa spratley’s. Sayang yun, pera yan.
kasi laging naka asa sa u.s.sino nakinabang sa vfa?malakas ang china tinawag nga tayong country of servants at wlang karapatan umangkin sa spratly island.
Rose,
Re: “I am just wondering-kung ang ating military leaders (kasama na dian ang Chief of staff) ay umaasa lagi sa US financially,,arms, supplies, leadership etc. are they not being mercenary?”
It is a fallacy to believe, in terms of defence monetary aid, that the US is giving the Philippines huge sums. It’s not true.
The Philippines receives pittance compared to other major non-Nato (which the Philippines is) allies like Israel or Egypt.
We are all being led to believe that the US is over generous with her foreign military aid to RP. This is farthest from the truth.
http://www.worldpolicy.org/projects/arms/reports/wawjune2005.html#10: Between 2001 and 2005, the Philippines received $145.8 million in Foreign Military Financing and another $11.5 million in military training aid, for a total of more than $157.3 million. [total of more thann 4 years] In 2005, Manila is slated to receive $20 million in FMF and another $2.9 million in IMET for 2006.
Compare that to Israel which receives roughly 2.5 BILLION DOLLARS a year and to Egypt almost 2 Billion dollars. Those two countries’ defence and military equipment and operations are FUNDED, FINANCED BY THE US and are PURCHASED only from the US.
Matter of fact RP received only $94.6 million in total for 2009 and much of that aid was spent to cover our own (RP’s) Balikatan exercises expenses.
How it works: The US deducts from the aid amount the expenses they incur during the stationning periods of their troops in Pinas including the costs of their own participation in the Balikatan or military exercises with RP. In other words, the total cash handed to the Philippines is not the published amount.
Think of it this way: It is a very cheap way for the US to operate a forward defence base.
So, let’s not be fooled. FMF is not CASH HAND OUT to the Philippines per se. Besides, any extra cash left that could be used to purchase weapons or defence equipment should be used to purchase US military equipment ONLY. That’s a stipulation.
You realise that you can’t even by a decent fast patrol craft with 96 million dollars let alone with the left over cash after the US and RP deduct the expenses to operate the VFA?
I do believe that the US is exercising a prerogative (which we allow them wholeheartedly) that is to set up a forward defence base for very little amount or at minimal cost.
In the current relationship, I find that it’s RP that’s clearly at a disadvantage and not the US.
In other words, if you bang down hard on the issue, the Philipines is not being a mercenary.
However, it’s true the pittance that’s left from the FMF is being stolen by our military topside and that’s a given.
Do you know kung ano’ng nangyari sa mga kababayan natin na naiwan sa mga lugar na pinabayaan natin mawala sa atin
Orchid Island
-Naglagay sila ng Nuclear waste sa orchid island na makakasama sa mga taga doon.
Sabah
-Maraming pinoy na nakatira doon ay stateless at mga dinedeport at meron din ni di makapag-aral
AdB: Thanks for the info..I can understand US’ concerns of Israel..but Egypt is receiving that much? US must have vested interests in Egypt militarily to help them so much financially..
Dear Ellen and all,
It is clear in the craftily-worded 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty that the US will not intervene unless the attack is made on “metropolitan” Philippines. The disputed KIG, not falling under th definition of “metropolitan”, frees the US from committing its forces to help us in case of war with China in the KIG area.
Please see the excerpt from the 1951 MDT below:
“Article V. For purposes of ARTICLE IV, an armed attack on either of the Parties is deemed to include an armed attack on the metropolitan territory of either of the Parties, or on the island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific Ocean, its armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific.”
You can read the full Treaty at: http://www.lawphil.net/international/treaties/mutdef.html
I know iyan ang interpretation ng Kano because iyan ang sagot nila noon sa tanong sa kanila na kung tutulong ba sila sa pagtanggal ng mga insekto sa Mischief Reef (kaookupa pa lamang noon ng PROC sa Mischief Reef) noong ginagawa pa yung VFA.
The sincerity of our leaders is not to defend our country- but to sell it. How many more Judases in Philippine politics are happy and willing to exchange our native land with 30 pieces of dirty silver? One time I was told by a foreigner that ” the Philippines is a beautiful country, rich with natural resources”. I was happy to hear that only to be embarrased when he continued ” but your leaders are corrupt”. Hoy mga walang hiya… GISING
Tagal nang kàlinaw nyán, giliw! Ang America’y walang ibang kinakampihan kundi ang sariling interes! 👿
Garcillano,
To be fair, you can’t fault the US for serving their own interests.
They do what they have to do for both self aggrandisement and self preservation. Which nation on earth wouldn’t do it if it could?
The thing is that we must be aware of it and not be fooled. We should at the very least try hard as we can to engage America on an equal footing level particularly because we are aware that they need Pinas as much as Pinas needs them. It’s a matter too of self respect.
If we allow ourselves to be walked on all over, there is a chance that any nation dealing with us will take us for what we are worth — nothing more, nothing less.
Ginagapang na sa Bastusang Pambansa ang Cha Cha. Parang walang kaalam alam ang mga Pilipino. Walang kapaki pakialam.
Ellen,
Off topic:
I don’t know if you are aware that
one Filipino is among the passengers of the ill-fated Air France flight
Condolences to the family of the Filipino passenger.
bakit natin sisisihin ang mga kano sa kanilang gustong gawin. dapat nating sisihin ang ating mga lider kung hindi nila magawa ang mga gusto nating mangyari.
This is a true story from the Japanese Embassy in US!!!
A few days ago, Prime Minister Mori was given some Basic English conversation training before he visits Washington and meets president Barack Obama…
The instructor told Mori Prime Minister, when you shake hand with President Obama, please say ‘how r u’.
Then Mr. Obama should say, ‘I am fine, and you?’ Now, you should say ‘me too’. Afterwards we, translators, will do the work for you.’
It looks quite simple, but the truth is…
When Mori met Obama , he mistakenly said ‘who r u?’ (Instead of ‘How r u?’.)
Mr. Obama was a bit shocked but still managed to react with humor: ‘Well, I’m Michelle’s husband, ha-ha…’
Then Mori replied ‘me too, ha-ha.. .’.
Then there was a long silence in the meeting room.
See how excited the Evil Bitch was with a handsome Prime Minister who looks like Dr. Hayden Kho:
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/june/03/yehey/images/mainphoto.jpg
Hi Garcil: ang Filipino leaders naman? walang paki sila kung wala silang benta? kahit mga kaluluwa nila? hindi sila makikialam kundi lang naman para sa interet nila..seguro ang sabi ng ating mga tongressman..mga kababayan, my beloved people…my interest is my interest…your interest is my interest as well..ok sa inyo hindi ba?
mukhang sabik na sabik sa guapo! can you blame her?
Manhid lang ang makakapagsabing parehas ang trato ng mga Kano sa mga Pinoy. Simple lang at alam naman ito ng lahat. During WWW2, Filipinos fought side by side with the Americans in a war with Japan. After the war, economic aids were poured to the enemy which is Japan and sparingly to the Philippines. While other war veterans were immediately and properly compensated, nagpalimos pa ang mga Pinoy sa loob ng 6 na dekada bago nabigyan ng kakarampot at hinintay munang mamatay ang karamihan.
At ngayon, ang Pinoy kailangan ang visa puntang US. Ang Kano puntang Pinas, kailangan ba ng visa?
Itong VFA, wala nang dapat pagtalunan. Talo na palagi ang Noypi.
Like other non-whites, Filipinos were racially discriminated against and stereotyped in the US. They were often called half-civilized, uneducated, worthless, and unscrupulous. Racism against the Filipinos was strong especially before WWW2 and just slightly diminished after Bataan and Corregidor. The influx of Filipino professionals notwithstanding, still, Filipinos were disliked because they were seen as willing to work for low wages and, thus, were taking the jobs of the Americans who are actually not taking it.
The MDT of 1951 was good when the US bases are still operating in the Philippines. Sa ngayon, malaking duda kung masusunod pa ang provision ng naturang agreement kapag may sumalakay sa Pinas.
it is a double edge sword. Filipino’s need to start standing on it’s own and not leaning and blaming somebody if something goes wrong.
a lot of people are against U.S. and it’s policies but give them a chance to migrate to U.S. and they will be jumping ship. a lot of people will disagree with me but i saw it happen. a leader of LFS (league of filipino students) migrated to US and he just laughs at what’s happening in our country because a lot of those “makabayan” groups are only using the poor people to move there own agenda and most of the time the agenda is to enrich themselves.
i am a filipino and i will always be. my kid speaks tagalog and eat pinakbet. the only thing i want is to see a leader that can lead and do what is best for the nation. we can elect a new president but the tentacles of corruption is always there choking the filipino people. i have faith with the soldiers in prison i hope if they get elected they will not be lured by the golden rays of corruption.
What was the real purpose of Sec. Gates’ visit to the Philippines? A day after his visit, Con-Ass Resolution was approved.
US is for gloria..hindi sila makikialam kasi gusto nila si gloria..ay oba.ma!
Th US needs China, not the Philippines that is why the US is careful not to say anything that may offend China re Philippine claims on Spratlys.
It is not actually because they like Gloria whom they know they cannot trust after all her double dealing in Iraq. It is more a matter of which can best serve US interest.
About time in fact that majority of Filipinos pinch themselves and stop imagining themselves as the US favorite, especially not by Obama.
Who needs parasitic Gloria and her cohorts anyway?
About time we ally with China or even become a Chinese province in the Chinese lake. That way we are far from harm’s way. The Americans should find allies elsewhare.
Yuko,
“Th US needs China, not the Philippines”
Of course, the US needs China!
China is her major creditor but don’t let your contempt for the Philippines cloud your judgement — the US needs the Philippines.
She (RP) is a major part of America’s forward defence interest in the southern region to monitor what’s going on in that part of the world with a view to keeping the sea lanes of communications open for her (US) fleet to pass unharmed.
Besides, the US needs every nation on side where possible, i.e., either as a military ally or as an economic ally and at the very least, to keep China from being overtly hostile to her.
Question of geopolitical & naval supremacy strategy.
Let it be clear: Gloria is NOT the reason why US is in the Philippines.
Gloria is a fundamental tool for the US to keeping Pinas in US the sphere of interest but she is not the reason why the US is staying in the Philippines.
RP presidents may come and go as far as the US is concerned.
The US doesn’t care who the RP President is even if she happens to be the most evil. What US cares is only her business and military interests.
“The US needs China”
That’s true and so as China needs US. United States is China’s largest client of it goods. A lot have said in this post but we have to go back to – Filipinos needs to start learning how to stand and walk on our own not be another China’s province or be a some colony of somebody.
AdB: China is her major creditor but don’t let your contempt for the Philippines cloud your judgement — the US needs the Philippines.
*****
Contempt of the Philippines? Who says? As for my judgment being clouded, you’re wrong.
Sure, the US needs a place where to put its bases like Mindanao. It is good for US interest not because Americans love and respect Filipinos, especially the midget now wanting to be permanent squatter at the palace by the murky river.
About time Filipinos stop fantasizing the Philippines as US favorite and themselves as a very special people to Americans.
Valdemar: About time we ally with China or even become a Chinese province in the Chinese lake.
*****
For all you know, long, long time ago, Luzon was a vassal state of China. I have read somewhere that long before the Spaniards invaded the Philippines, tribes in Luzon used to pay tributes to the Chinese in South China.
I don’t know what good it would do the Philippines to have similar relationship with China again.
BTW, BE, the incumbent Prime Minister of Japan is Taro Aso, not Mori, who is actually a pretty good English speaker having graduated from famed Waseda University, a journalist for Sankei Shimbun and served as foreign minister, and education minister before becoming a prime minister. So I doubt if anything you related about can ever happen.
As for Taro Aso, he, too, can speak good English having studied in the US (Stanford U) and England (London School of Economics). Still, during official negotiations with foreigners, etc., as is customary, he talks to his counterparts through an interpreter.
Regarding Luzon,
Luzon became tributary to both Brunei and China actually,in fact it is lakandula’s family that ruled luzon at that time,and that was a kapampangan dynasty not a tagalog one,tondo was once kapampangan as well,and it is the kapampangans who once lived in all of central luzon,the expansion of tagalogs and ilocanos was the fault of spanish,they made them migrate to kapampangan areas while spanish hire kapampangan soldiers and mercenaries and also because many kapampangans changed their native language kaya ganoon that is why pampanga is small that is how spanish divide and conquered and distorted us…..
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Ganoon ang americano they treat us as disposables Ganoon din ang spain if spain acquired a better territory in asia such as HK they will abandon the philippines like Portugal did to Malaysia and Indonesia leaving us distorted….
I forgot to say that it is the direct ancestors of filipinos are the ones responsible to the creation of rice terraces in cordilleras and sierra madre(including tayabas) not just the ancestor of igorots.
Since it is our ancestors are the ones who created the rice terraces in luzon,filipinos are not naturally lazy,we can be productive and industrious too..
Spanish will not be able to conquer luzon and mindanao if they became fully islamized..
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Spratly’s was claimed by vietnam first before we claimed it…
Yuko,
Just to clarify matters to avoid shooting in all directions:
Here’s what you said on June 3, 2009 1:40 pm: Th US needs China, not the Philippines
Then you said: Sure, the US needs a place where to put its bases like Mindanao.
If I’m not wrong, Mindanao is in the Philippines, logic states that if the US needs a place like Mindanao and Mindanao is in the Philippines, the US therefore needs the Philippines which was my contention, so thank you for agreeing.
I remember that line from Yuko (grizzy). Maybe she just forgot. Speaking of Japan, I heard that thousands of Japanese-Filipino children would be granted Japanese citizenship. Once they arrive in Japan, the Japanese government shall extend all the help given to fellow Japanese.
Well,the truth is america is more interested to help countries that can serve it’s interests kapag wala nang pakinabang tinatapon lang….