Pay up

"We want Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) to continue". This is the wish of the Department of Defense and the AFP. For now, it seems the VFA is in a state of limbo after President Duterte unilaterally abrogated it but then put it on hold. Defense Secretary Lorenzana would want to continue the VFA as well as the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) where the Philippines and the United States have an agreement where an invasion by another country on one will prompt help from the other. The wishes of both the DND and the AFP certainly have something to do with China's claim to the entire South China Sea, to which the Philippines is also a claimant. Lorenzana believes we need a strong ally. And rightly so as we cannot match China's military strength.

But in his latest press conference, Duterte told the Americans they must first pay up if they want the VFA to continue. Senator Panfilo Lacson seemingly threw shade on President Duterte when he tweeted "Sam" that not all Filipinos are extortionists. He has taken down the tweet but stated there was a better and more statesmanlike way to handle the issue. This is what we have been hearing from the Palace, particularly the President. Duterte recently demanded ABS-CBN pay its taxes if it wants to have another franchise or else he will block it. This even though the BIR has already said that ABS-CBN has no tax deficiencies. The DBP also said that there were no anomalies in the transactions that took place between DBP and ABS-CBN. Duterte is also only statesmanlike with China.

In my humble opinion, I believe the Philippines stands to benefit more from the agreement than the US. If that is the case, will the US even consider paying to keep the VFA alive? What will happen if American warships stopped sailing in the South China Sea and military exercises between the AFP and the US Navy and Marines also ceased? The Philippine Navy will not participate in the naval exercises with allies like America in the disputed waters because according to Lorenzana, "China is watching". The Chinese government can do a lot to us if they get angry, added Lorenzana.

Here we are amid the largest and most expensive modernization of the AFP such as the procurement of new warships and fighter aircraft, but we do not want to anger China? A country that has given their large coast guard ships the go signal to use force when they encounter a foreign ship encroaching within their claimed territory? Remember we too have claims on some areas of the South China Sea. What if Beijing is not pleased with the modernization of our AFP? What if we wanted to buy more weapons for our new frigates like anti-ship missiles from America? Would it anger Beijing? What would be the government's stand should that happen?