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US President Obama promised to defend Senkaku but not Spratlys

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Just my opinion

By Raïssa Robles

I eagerly awaited what US President Barack Obama would say about the Philippine dispute with China over the Spratlys.

I was glad to hear ABS-CBN reporter RG Cruz ask Obama the question:

“Will the US defend the Philippines in case the territorial dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea or the South China Sea become an armed conflict?”

Obama’s answer danced around the question. He said, in part:

“We do not have claims in this area territorially. We are an Asia Pacific nation and our prominent interest is peaceful resolution of conflict…And we don’t even take specific positions on the disputes between nations.”

The sentence – “And we don’t even take specific positions on the disputes between nations” – mystified me.

Because just last week, Obama categorically took a specific position in the case of Senkaku or Diaoyu island, claimed by both Japan and China. You can watch Obama’s reply mentioning Senkaku during his press conference in Tokyo below:

Some netizens have said that now is not the time to push the US on this issue.

If not now, when?

So, will this give China a hint which territory to grab first?

[Note: The photo of US President Barack Obama giving a toast during the state dinner in Malacañang Palace is a pooled photo taken by Francis Malasig of the European Presssphoto Agency (EPA) just hours ago.]

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Comments

  1. It’s not necessary anymore for US to state categorically that it will defend Filipino soldiers, fishermen or civilians in the Spratly in the event an armed conflict take place there. US has already said not just once but several times that it will oppose the use of force, coercion and intimidation in the territorial dispute in South & East China Sea. Ano pa ba ang ibig sabihin niyan. US most recent word to us is, our alliance with them is ironclad. Nakataya din ang reputation ng US sa mga ibang allies kung paano tutupad sa commitment. Bukod riyan, sa tingin ko maraming nakakairitang bagay ang ginagawa ang tsina sa US na di malayong di nila ipakita ang galit sa isang pagkakataon.

    Hindi rin dapat asahan ng Pilipinas na military confrontation kaagad ang gagawing hakbang ng US. Kasi ang primary goal ng US ay peaceful resolution. Mas narararapat lamang na peaceful resolution ang unang hakbang. Para tayong engot na mga Pinoy kung gusto natin na armed confrontation agad ang iresponde ng US. Siyempre kung may unang hakbang ng self defense, dapat gampanan ng Pinoy.

    My guess is, kapag nang atake ang intsik, ang unang gagawin ng US mabibigay ng babala at magdi demand na mag back off ang tsina. At kapag nakipagtigasan ang tsina magpo-posisyon ang US military. At ang susunod ay economic sanction kung saan mas vulnerable ang tsina kesa sa US.
    Importante din na mayroong pangsalag na sandata ang Pinas sa first salvo ng atake kung sakali man. Mahirap mag assume na hindi mang a-attack ang Tsina kasi billion ang halaga ng langis sa Recto Bank na gusto ng Tsina na mapunta sa kanila. Kahit na ang US Dept of Energy mismo ang nagpapatunay na may malaking deposito ng oil at gas sa lugar na yan ng West Philippines Sea.

    • Tama naman ang sagot nang USA, na kailangan sa Peaceful Ways daanin ang mga problema at nang maiwasan ang digmaan… Alalahanin natin na kailangan din nang USA ang China at kaibigan din nila ito at malaki naitulong sa kanilang Economiya…

      Walang NANALO sa Digmaan kaya huwag nating isipin ito… Let Us Give Peace & LOVE…..Amen…

  3. let’s admit it. we need usa.
    we also need china, economically(not its encroachment).
    usa needs china. usa owes them $1.3T(more or less)
    usa(may not admit), also needs us.
    in a cooperation, there is always gain.
    and for its darker side, the terms is being studied and discussed.
    let’s give this edca a chance.
    our country here is a winner already, promise..:)

    • and I believe both china and usa need our country as well. we trade with both countries and many chinese firms are here doing business and making big profits. yes, I agree, give edca a chance. edca has life expectancy of 10yrs, after that, it can be overturned and not renewed, depending on who the next president will be. if nothing is done to stop edca when it’s up for renewal, edca will automatically renew itself for another 10yrs.

    • I don’t care what “banana” is EDCA but I firmly support it – in contrast to joker’s views, as it will give us again an umbrella of military protection this time from the chinese bullies.

      As PNoy publicly admitted, we don’t have a single fighter jet at the moment and our poor navy has only 3 previously-mothballed Hamilton-class cutters from the US naval junkyard – in comparison to the dominant chinese navy with 4 aircraft carriers, among others, under construction.

      MAY KASABIHAN TAYO: ANG TAONG NAGIGIPIT – KAHIT SA PATALIM AY KAKAPIT

      • tama ka dyan, kalahari. I begrudge the patalim though. I cannot see, smell or feel the damn thing.

        patalim should stop being imaginary like a ghost and make itself visible so people can shove it back, sidestep it and give it a deadly roundhouse kick. our people are capable of giving a good fight. patalim beware. we got balisong too. and we know arnis.

        not all our sayings are useful. some are downright crude and good only for scaring children.

        and we got lot of lawyers who can muddle the issue, make patalim into hilong talilong, gone – poof!

  5. Here is again one poor remark : ““What did the Philippines get out of the Obama visit? Zero,” Sen. Arroyo said in a statement sent to Senate reporters. http://globalnation.inquirer.net/103143/joker-arroyo-what-did-ph-get-out-of-obama-visit-zero

    ‘What did the people get out of the PDAF during Tanda’s helm?’…MINUS MINUS ZERO! [said at CPMers blog]

    To fight the Chinese might…the corrupt ‘unjust rich’ public officials and generals should do the fighting…as they got all the money which could have been used for modernizing our armed forces! Not the US soldiers and sailors, nor our own. SILA MUNA to face the bully China!

    • Our gov’t rushed acc to Sen. Arroyo – ““Analyze it. We rushed to sign the EDCA as a gift to President Obama xxx”

      Why? Because bully China is also rushing to occupy our areas claimed; China is rushing to build military garrisons, structures; rushing Chinese gunboats to BLOCKED everytime we re-supply provisions for our brave Phil Marines at that grounded rusty BRP Sirra Madre de Kickapoo!

      China did RUSH dotting that 9-DOT LINES! Senator…you are always ‘biting’…give/help naman some good ideas beforehand. Are you about to say we ARE FOOLS RUSH IN?

      Rush! Rush! Rush! What does Sen. Arroyo prefer…years of study on EDCA? By senators also? By the whole Congress? SUSMAriyosep!

      ’tis FUN in ‘Pinas to RUSH things, di ba? PDAF? DAP? Malampaya Funds? Rush!

      • cheer up, leona. joker arroyo just need to visit the wellness center in taguig where arroyo’s fake doctor is, and get himself much needed stem cell therapy. his brain need recharging and plenty of it. how else could you explain his being counter productive? his brain must be convulating the wrong way and needed cleansing.

      • Sen. Joker Arroyo refutes EDCA:

        … “The Aquino administration has “cleverly” gotten around the constitutional prohibition on the establishment of foreign bases in the country by allowing the use of Philippine military facilities by United States forces under a new agreement on defense cooperation” xxx

        China also CLEVERLY made the 9-dots LINES and occupied what’s not theirs!

        …”The Constitution forbids foreign bases. [But] this is even worse. You allow your bases to be used by the American forces”

        China FORBIDS the Philippines from occupying it’s own territory and disregards the latter’s claims.

        …”The mere act of allowing US forces “unimpeded access” to Philippine military facilities constitutes basing, which is prohibited by the Constitution”

        China’s UNIMPEDED Navy Forces into Philippines’ territory is prohibited by International Law and rule of law.

        …”“What you can’t do directly, you can’t do indirectly … What is forbidden is forbidden

        China is doing DIRECTLY and not indirectly ALL OF THE ABOVE at the expense of Philippine security of it’s territory.

        …”He said the constitutional prohibition does not make a distinction between small or big bases. “It simply says bases.”

        China absolutely violates everything of Philippine territory including our CONSTITUTION!

        …xxx the Edca “could not rise above” the MDT, which he pointed out makes no reference to bases.”

        China will RISE ABOVE Philippine interests and it’s territory come what may.

        …xxx “The Edca, by contrast, allows the entry of “unlimited” US troops during a 10-year period, as well as the construction of US facilities in the agreed locations”

        China will USE IT’S UNLIMITED NAVAL POWER over all Philippine territory that China does not recognize.

        … ““The spring can’t rise above its source, as the saying goes”

        China will SPRING forcefully from IT’S SOURCE, according to it’s OWN SAYING.

        … ““Thus, it’s fallacious for the executive [branch] to say that the Edca is just ‘in furtherance of the MDT and within the context of the VFA”

        China’s acts are REALITY. What is fallacious is our pretending that we can FIGHT CHINA!

        …”“In short, all hands on deck. Nothing can be lost, but much can be gained by this consultation and openness”

        What DECK …on our BRP Sirra Madre derelict? You were a senator, why did you not wonder our NAVY had to use A DERELICT DECK to fight CHINA? C’mon…

        …”the Philippines was caught in the middle of a “high-stakes, strategic poker game” between the US and China.”

        A Poker Game? This is FALLACIOUS senator. What our country is engaged in is our DESTINY and FATE vs China getting to EAT US ALL including YOU!

        …”A wrong move on our part would involve incalculable damage to us, not to China or the US”

        The Philippine NEVER MADE ANY WRONG MOVE. It is CHINA who DID! We can make ALL MOVES but never make wrong moves on this. You were a senator…Senate failed and made WRONG MOVES indeed before THIS!

        We are DAMAGED. You are damaged. Senate damaged. Congress damaged. Filipinos damaged. How will you CALCULATE the damage? Sigue…compute mo senator.

    • It takes a hard heart to believe nothing was gained. This must be a guy who believes something tangible has to be gained, like money, rather than finding value in spiritual communion. I’d guess sealing Philippine security and sovereignty in cement means nothing to him. I’d also guess his priest must not be much of a holy roller preacher, for sure, to leave a man so dry – nay, wizened – of spirit. Obama is one of the best political holy rollers in the world. Anyone who can’t “get” what Obama is delivering has some kind of emotional blockage . . .

    • The chance that the Chinese will take the “rocks” away is small compared with the chance that some Filipino trapos will sell the rocks for their own benefit. In this respect he is right, Obama didn’t say anything to the plunderers on his table to help the President in his fight against corruption.

      The enemy is within. Let’s keep our eyes on the ball that matters.

      • Joker Arroyo has closed eyes that don’t see the threat of China on our territorial sovereignty, has closed mind that doesn’t recognize the bullying tactics of China in Ayungin Shoal and has closed ears that don’t hear the sounds of the thundering roar of the cannon water aimed at our poor fishermen and the riotous roar of the Filipino peace advocates and opposition supporters who staged rallies against Obama’s visit. We CPMers could demand for the sending of these rallyists to the Scarborough and Ayungin shoals and face the chinese bullies. At least they’re doing something tangible to secure our sovereignty.

        If he can’t offer the most bankable solutions to China’s incursion on our territorial sovereignty, he better thinks squarely, long and hard before he opens his mouth on this issue. He’s like an old parrot warbling nothingness, warbling for the sake of warbling,

        We CPMers have better perpectives than Joker Arroyo on the matters of China’s threat to our security

    • @Leona

      Gloria’s statement cannot be the basis of Zero Achievement out of these talks between PNOY and Pres Obama, she is no Prophet to predict the outcome.Worst comes to worst, Missile attack from China, leave no other option for US od A to declare WAR with them, perhaps this is the WAR mentioned by NICODEMUS.

      (-) (-) ZERO was truth he he he hence Enrile et al are now being the subject of this scam with Napoles on the outside he he he

      Hundreds of US Armies (Marines on the frontline) of A, the US Navy Seals and some US Airfoce has lost their lives because of depending the FREEDOM of the other country, to name a few>Vietnam, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia against Iraq….

      Off course partial interest as well for selling weapons, however, Liberty among the inhabitants is always the AIM of US of A.

  6. Just two trivial comments:

    1. Dont know if anyone else noticed it, but when the toasts were made, Pnoy’s glass had water, not wine or champagne. It was clear liquid. Pnoy was seen smirking, looking for the waiters to replace it, but it was not replaced.

    he he he here’s the spin: Pnoy is the designated driver for this EDCA, so he cannot have any alcohol.

    2. If the Obama staff had updated intelligence briefings on Philippine politics, it would have easily come to this conclusion after taking note of the VIPs who attended the State dinner:

    (the intel report may have read like this)

    SO MANY OF THE ATTENDEES HAD/HAVE CORRUPTION CASES AS A PRESIDENT, SENATOR OR CONGRESSMAN OR CABINET MEMBER. AND YOU HAVE SCIONS OF CORRUPT PRESIDENTS WHO WERE BOOTED OUT.

    I was speculating that Obama may have wondered, how in hell can they get things done here if every other person they elect/re-elect is corrupt? ha ha ha

    • i agree on your last statement! Obama was probably marvelling on how his own table were full of corrupt people! The place needed bars with all the corrupt crooks in there.

      • henri, I think obama has wide reportoire. has dined with president of france who is babaero, also benyamin netanyehu who has sent hundreds of palestinians to death. obama was also seen dining with russia’s putin despite putin’s stance of not lifting a finger to help the hapless people of syria. obama even shook hands with the president of china whose record of human rights is less than ideal. for all we know, obama is a consumate politician used to sharing the table with undesirables.

        • Agree, he has to do so as head of state. To meet with heads of state of other countries. However, whoever placed the people at the same table should not have included Estrada, a convicted fromer president, at the same table, just by virtue of his being a former president. He is a crook, plain and simple. I can understand Ramos, but Estrada? Sit him with the mayors.

          If you take out the corrupt politicians sitted there, there will be hardly anyone in attendance.

    • @Andrew

      Filipino way of forgiveness and acceptance…”…never mind what you did, as long as you have changed..”

      Philippine economy has not reached each zenith (on its way) like other countries has done, however viewing the angle of Humanitarian aspect of life, Philippine despite the ratio of poor to rich people and tens to fifty storms a year with left and right corruptions, has manage to stay on top ALIVE and KICKING for FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY, JUSTICE and sharing AID such as FOOD, CLOTHING and SHELTER…HE HE HE …

    • Dahil si obama ay imbitado o guest sa dinner na iyon hindi sya pwede mamili kung sino ang makakaharap nya o kasalo nya sa lamesa.

      Ako ay nagtataka kasali ba sa protocol na dapat ay anduon ang mga past presidents? Kahit na ang isa ay convicted then pardoned criminal?

      May say nga ba si Pnoy kung sino ang kasali sa dinner o ala?

      Ano ang batayan at isinali sila?

  7. When the mutual defense treaty between the PHL and US was signed on 30 August 1951 at Washington DC, the disputed islands, reefs & shoals at WPS were not yet claimed by us – unlike the Senkaku islands in East China Sea that were already administered by Japan when they signed similar treaty with the US.

    The US maybe publicly non-committal at present to come to our rescue ostensibly to protect its huge trade relationship with China but privately, with the signing of the latest enhanced defense cooperation that includes rotational troops and warships visiting agreements, and the on-going construction of a vast naval base at Ulugan Bay in Palawan facing the spratly archipelago – obviously to accommodate the US warships, the handwritings on the wall say the US is repositioning its deadly naval fleet from Hawaii into our midst in anticipation of a future conflict with the ambitious chinese bullies.

    The war rooms of both countries are busy plotting how to extinguish each other from the face of the earth – and that will include us whether we like it or not.

    • When America has put in place it’s military power in the disputed sea claims, China’s anger to that will be extinguish. Imagine USA and the Western Powers sanctioning RUSSIA and Putin’s cronies!

      Sanctions will be applied to CHINA in the same manner. Goodbye $1Trillion. Frozen! For every destruction or damage done by bully China, debit the value to that. Goodbye.

      Without money China will be crippled financially. No trade. No commerce. No banking transactions. No USA visas to Chinese officials. KICKAPOOoo!

      All productions from China will be distributed among other Asian Nations. This is and will be so bitter to bite for bully China. Watch Out! USA moves into our region is planned already for the next 100 years.

      Whether we like it or not stick it out with USA. Nobody is perfect anyway. But just be wary that we don’t get STICK ‘EM UP by anybody no more.

    • @Kalahari

      he he he i like that phrase.>”…WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT…”
      to share our lands for US of A weapons is the best thing Philippine can do…for the sake of LIBERTY HE HE HE…

  8. See the MAP please at West Philippines Sea/SPRATLYs , it includes the Kalayaan Island/Municipality a town of Palawan Province Philippines . Sorrounding the Kalayaan Island are 6 or 7 islets owned still by the Philippines. BUT near the Kalayaan Island and the other 6 or 7 other islets owned by us are also SORROUNDED of islets ( very near to us and to other ASEAN/ASIAN claimants ) owned by VIETNAM, CHINA, and etc… ONLY it was NAMED different by other Nations/Claimants….intertwined with each other and some islets not owned by us are nearer to PALAWAN shore line , like the Mischief Reefs…

    I am sorry maam Raissa but his question was not specific enough for OBAMA to come up with a reasonable reply that will/might impaired the rights of the Chinese claiming( occupied already by China ) other islets in the area not claimed by us , not to mention Mischief Reefs maam.

    • What the Philippines and other Nations in NAMING the contested area’s were OVERLAPPING . Some islets occupied by China and Vietnam OBAMA and the US knew it … Then in his question mayroon pa pong South China Sea… That question might be an insinuating question that all islets, atoll at South China Sea belong to us… Hindi naman siguro ganoon ang gustong sabihin ni CRUZ pero ang dating o maari ang dating kay OBAMA ay ganoon nga po…

  9. Raissa,

    Can we compare the language in art 5 of the US-Japan treaty with the language in the Phil – US MDT? Parang nuanced kasi ang sagot ni Obama.

  10. ‘Mystified me’ says Raissa… quoted from Mr. Obama’s answer that US will defend Japan etc.

    In the case of ‘Pinas, Pres. Obama’s answer was that there is ‘a dispute(s)’ etc., even after both ‘Pinas and US agreed/signed EDCA already…this mystified me too! In short, Mr. Obama is saying ‘we will help Japan against China’ etc.; as to ‘Pinas, WE DON’T KNOW!’

    Like a question where potential correct answers are ‘A,’ ‘B,’ ‘C,’ or ‘D’…the last “ALL of the Above,” US choose a Fifth…’E,’ – We don’t know.

    WE DON’T KNOW…has many a thousand guesses/meanings. For ‘Pinas people, only 1 meaning is chosen: Come USA, help to defend us against CHINA!

    @JoeAm has a good point. ‘A step in back, out of respect’ is a hopeful expected action by USA.

    History tells ‘Pinas remained with US during WW II until 1946 from 1898[?]. Japan defeated and occupied by US Forces after WW II by USA did not have ‘Pinas’ history like this.

    I like @Rene-Ipil’s “no armed conflict” this removes what mystifies Raissa and me.

    @Martial Bonifacio’s No. 5.2 is re: Erap’s being a magnificent guy…a clear mystification for me! [a guess by @Martial only] In US Hollywood it had the Magnificent 7…Yul Bryner et. al.

    @Emong’s reply is what we for ‘Pinas should do about having been overtaken by insufficient time to prepare for defending our country due to too much time by our AFP generals et. al., throwing away the time. Misunderstanding by US soldiers that a Filipina [women] as more than a prostitute really mystifies me again! Everyone loves that GREEN BUCKS!

    ‘Double standard talaga’ at No. 2.2, says @Martial B. Maybe our fault that we as our leaders lead us, we also get mystified with MULTIPLE STANDARDS imposed upon us! We don’t know what, where, who, when and why.

    @moonie is trying to say that Mr. Coolmenares has fears. Correct. Lawyers are only natural to be pessimistic…an orientation embedded on lawyers’ thinking of all things! Give Mr. Cool a credit for that.

    @Victin Luz’s opn to all this matter and Mr. Obama’s answer to the question is worth an assurance for US to think and act to defend ‘Pinas in case of attack by China. And set aside that idea/thought “We don’t know” [my idea above].

    @troy believes that “Its a clear cop out”…not so fast Mr. Pitt! The PHILIPPINES compared to any other country or nation is the HELEN of Troy for USA! The most beautiful FACE on Earth! A thousand boats or ships will be launched to defend and get back HELEN of ‘Pinas! More than a prostitute at that! hahaha

    Thank you my friends here CPMers. Back to subject matter…a mystery hovers over us ‘Pinas!

    To President Barack ‘Barry’ Obama, may your stay in our beautiful country be a beautiful and enjoyable one. A lasting experience with us Filipinos. After your exit from WH, try to come back, we invite you again. Hopefully we are not yet at war with China by that time.

    Mabuhay ka Pres. Obama! Mabuhay ka Pres. Noynoy! MABUHAY PILIPINAS! And great thanks to you Ma’am RAISSA! CPMers too!

    • Is this news quote accurate…”“Our alliance with the United States remains a cornerstone of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Through the years, the strong partnership between our peoples has deepened and diversified,” Binay said.” Philstar.

      ‘Partnership xxx deepened and diversified’…with US. Leading to where the ‘eyes cannot see’ so deep & dark…and splintered, or broken to thousand pieces, or fragmented into what relationship?

      We don’t know for that.

      http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/04/29/1317314/binay-washington-today

    • In quite fairness, here it is …

      “American President Barack Obama last night assured the Philippines that the United States “has an ironclad commitment to defend you, your security, and your independence.”

      Obama gave the assurance at the state dinner tendered in his honor at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang.”

      IRONCLAD…says Pres. Obama in the news report. ‘Ironclad’ I believe refers historically to a US warship in the Civil War in the US…a movie showing McHoughney [actor] ..this warship was found in the Desert in the Middle East. Made of iron.

      Now, we know USA will put up ironclad commitment vs China. Our WW II Veterans did that in 1941 to 1944…their bloodclad commitment at that! So too the US infantry men!

      Hurrah! I guess there is no mystifying on this now. Thanks for that State Dinner…SARAP! inducing ironclad tastes of Filipino Cooking! @JoeAm, what’s that wine….Kuphoa? I think that’s what they are toasting…see the photo –
      http://www.mb.com.ph/ironclad-commitment/

      Tagay again…!

      • …’O …kain pa!

        The sumptuous menu included:

        ‘The guests at the dinner were treated to sumptous [sick…hehehe] food that include Lobster Kilawin Carpaccio, Seafood Stew with River Prawns, Scallops and Smoked Mussels, Sweet Banana in Rich Tomato and Coriander Sauce, Red-dotted Lapu Lapu woth [again sick] Pili Nut Crust, Pumpkin Mash and local vegetables cooked in coconut milk’

        Only in da ‘Pinas! Fun to Eat! ‘im HUNGRY now!

        .

        • @leona, all of those food will give you LBM (sorry!). Masarap nga iyan sa mga matatapang ang sikmura like most of us who are used to eating those. but for Obama and co., baka sumakit ang sikmura nila after.

    • Erap was one of the magnificent 12 senators that rejected the US bases. Being the mayor of Manila, Erap had no choice but to attend the dinner upon invitation of PNoy. I gathered that the intro went this way:

      PNoy: Mr. President, Erap is here as mayor of Manila to welcome your visit and your visiting forces. As you well know Erap was one of our magnificent 12. I also invited the others but they are ashamed to show their faces to you.

      Obama: Aha! Gotcha! Finally!

      Erap: Mr. President, you are welcome here in Manila as a visitor only.

      Before Erap finished his statement PNoy hurriedly led Obama to President Ramos.

    • You’re a delightful read today. Kickapoo joy juice is the wine, I think.

      The step back is symbolized in the agreement, where it looks to me the Philippines got just about everything it wanted, short term, clear understanding that approvals for who comes in and what gets built is approved by the Philippines, Filipino base commanders have unfettered access to US buildings, a lot of equipment will be coming over, big time training exercises. Give us 10 years of that and the military capability of the Philippines will be upgraded mightily. And respectfully.

  11. I agree with Victin, Martial, Emong and Moonie. And if I were Obama, my answer would be: “there would be no armed conflict whatsoever. I assure you. Because US, China and Philippines need one another and not one of us would dare attack each other.”

    • Makes me wonder how Pnoy introuduced Erap to Obama during the state dinner since they are sitting on the same table.

      “I would like to introuduce to you President Estrada. He is one of the guys called Magnificent 12.” :)

      • . . . one of the magnificent 12 who stepped up and did my bidding in hongkong recently, PNoy would have added, and went there to specifically apologize and so maintain our status in the area. this is the man and erap is his name. p.s. whisper, whisper, if you happen to see him in US, shoot him. ha, ha.

  13. Hmm , I still believe that action speaks louder than words. Even though PBO did not mention anything about supporting Philippines agains China, the mere fact that they invested in putting people & machinery here is already an assurance. Sadly, as much as we want to deny it, we really need to have US support in order to deter anyone from grabbing what is ours given that we still have a poorly equipped but vastly improving AFP(thanks to PNoy and his generals). We need time to continue modernizing our AFP. We’re making progress and it’s really heartwarming but we still have a long way to go. It’s also a good tactic to be ‘mapagkumbaba’ and let the agressors think that we are weak. It might work better for us in the long run.

    The challenge right now is make them ( US , US soldiers, ect) understand us, respect us and treat us no less than friends. For example, they should understand that Filipina are more than just the prostitute they see on clubs near former bases. That these countrymen of ours were just forced to prostitution because of poverty. That they have once been ‘Mahinhin’ and can be brought back to being ‘Mahinhin’ given the chance. And that majority of our Filipina women still excercise this value.This is just one of the issues that we’ll be facing moving forward. I’m sure the leftist and China are fully aware of these issues and will take advantage. And it is up to us to make sure that they won’t succeed.

  14. 1. I believe one reason why US have different position on Senkaku v Spratlys is because one is a dispute between 2 nations JPN-CHN (including Taiwan?) while in the West Philippine Sea there are multiple claimants (Philippine, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, China).

    2. Japan with its military hardware/capability took a different route and is still showing that it will keep safe guard/defend the senakaku island while our government took China’s word and retreat our only ship (BRP Gorio) that was guarding Scarborough shoal.

    The main responsibility in protecting our national sovereignty/territory rest upon us Filipinos and government not the US. So how can we expect our allies defend us if we ourselves doesn’t want to defend our claims?

    When some government officials single-handedly sold parts of our claim like the JSMU. When budgets that supposed to go for AFP modernization was stolen and kept in the pockets of corrupt officials.

    “So, will this give China a hint which territory to grab first?”

    Well China already have puppet groups within our government who pretends that they represent some sectors of the Filipino people through congress “party list system”.

    For example “Pamalakaya” instead of condemning the recent Chinese aggression attacking Filipino fishermen they instead insinuate that it is the US stirring trouble in WPS.

    • “The US is also expanding its bases in Japan. During the International Alliance of Democratic Lawyers congress last week, it was made clear by many legal luminaries attending the Congress that the crime of aggression does not only attach to the US but also the country that allows the use of its territory to attack other countries. While we condemn China’s aggressive acts in the West Philippine Sea, we will not tolerate aggressive acts of the US, which will subject the Filipino people to retaliatory attacks by the many enemies of the US,” said Colmenares.

      Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/597737/bayan-muna-calls-aedc-with-us-worse-than-1991-treaty-eyes-case-in-intl-body

      Retaliatory Attacks?
      Singapore, Thailand, Japan and South Korea for decades have not been attacked being an ally of the US and having military bases or having the same military rotation agreement.

      Is Mr. Colmenares referring again to WW2 where in the delusion is that Japan will never invade the Philippines during that time if America does not have any bases within our country?

      Kung ang argumento naman ng Makabayan bloc is they are against military base/access of foreign forces to our facilities, bakit hindi nila kundinahin yung China na hanggang ngayon ay ina-upgrade at inuukupa yung garrison sa Mischief Reef? Yung mga barko nila na patuloy na naglalayag malapit sa Palawan at hinaharass yung mangingisdang Pinoy?

      Double standard talaga.

      • colmenares is more afraid of retaliation when there might not be retaliation. the man seems afraid of his own shadow and not been thinking outside his comfort zone, his mind stuck in the past. these are modern times and we have modern problems. and solutions offered by colmenares and his cohorts fall short. we are trying to stand on our own feet and we cannot do that by being forever fearful of retaliations. if there are indeed retaliations, we’ll face them. we’re accountable and take responsibility of our actions. colmenares can only moan. he’s paranoid.

        anyhow, thank you, colmenares. we know the risk of what we’re doing, but will do it anyway, will surge forward anyway. life is full of risks, crossing the street is risky as you might get run over by cars, but we cross streets anyway. by being born, you risk dying, but we got born anyway.

        and if colmenares doesn’t like what is being done in our country, he can immigrate, or live in his own island. that would be risky too. if the chinese come to take his island away from him, he’ll let them, right?

        • A possible “fear” that they (leftist) have is AFP asking the US for military assistance (drones) to hunt down the mountain bandits who always plants IED and hurt civilians.

  15. In my opinion, OBAMAs answer was just the reasonable response on a very general question/compounded question for the whole area ( west phil. sea or south china sea ) . It include’s everything on that area , including islets, reefs and atolls rightfully owned by other ASEAN/ASIAN Nations…. They could have asked only/specifically Scarborough Shoal which legally belong to us and Ayungin Shoal which was within RP EEZ ( exclusive economic zone ) but was not developed for many years into one of our country concrete marker and only a delapidated ship was anchored thereat and temporary in nature when questioned by China . Mischief Reefs years of development by China and Philippines leniency could have been included in his question’s to OBAMA..