All aboard

WHILE we continue to witness the resumption of the Corona impeachment trial, let us not forget other things that are important – relevant enough to become newspaper headlines.
Like physics, politics follows a law of equal and opposite pairs of action and reaction forces.
However, unlike physics, politics is not required to always adhere to this law. The rigidity between military and political forces between countries is perhaps best illustrated in the nation’s tendency to erect defenses against future military hardware actions.
Today, China is strengthening its land borders and beginning to turn outward. The country’s foreign policy prospects have become as aggressive as those of the United States a century ago, but for completely different reasons.
China has built power affairs both in neighboring territories and Western locales rich in resources required to promote its growth. What drives this country overseas has to do with a core national interest – economic survival.
Although military observers consider China to be a generation behind the US, the speed of its modernization is of great concern because of the risks it poses to other countries’ security.
Recent incidents involving the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) have highlighted the competing claims they both have to the territory, and the possible threat the latter may bring as Asia’s emerging power.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed to a code of conduct for the South China Sea a decade ago, but it has never been translated into a set of rules.
To strengthen the force to protect the Philippines’ claims, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, along with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, traveled to Washington last week to meet with their respective counterparts, inking an agreement for the procurement of jets and additional patrol boats.
This development occurred, amid the incursion of China within the Philippine sovereignty and maritime jurisdiction.
In a joint statement, both countries reaffirmed their “commitment to fulfill the vision of the Manila Declaration, through an invigorated and expanded alliance capable of addressing 21st century challenges.”
“We reinforced the significance of our Mutual Defense Treaty as the basis for the alliance and the treaty’s continued relevance to the peace, security, and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific,” the statement added.
The US representatives also reiterated that the country is not seeking to re-establish a military base on the Philippines, but only shares a common interest with its South East Asian ally — protecting freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea.
Meanwhile, on Jan. 29, Metro Manilans warmly welcomed the overseas port visit to the country of USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108). Aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer was Filipino-American US Navy Commander Leopoldo S. Albea Jr.
Another US Navy ship, the USS Chafee (DDG-90) also docked to the port of Cebu for a four-day visit.
USS Wayne E. Meyer and USS Chafee arrived to the country to engage with their counterparts in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and further strengthen the ties between the United States and the Philippines, through an exchange of information — especially between the navies of countries.
The crew will also perform a series of scheduled goodwill and humanitarian activities while allowed an opportunity for rest and relaxation.
This goodwill visit does not only seek to bolster the inter-operability of the participating country’s armed services in territorial defense, it also highlights a strong historic, community and military partnership between the US and the Philippines.
The American fleet’s port courtesy call is a reaffirmation of the vibrant bilateral ties between the two participating countries. It is not a reason to start war mongering.
Before arriving at an impasse, we should stop magnifying current maritime issues out of proportion, to actual global security problems.
A more flourishing military move is to initiate defense cooperation between conflicting nations, to cope with actual global threats, while enlightening citizens of each nation to claw out of their half-hearted patriotism and to focus more on issues that matter.
While both sides continue to beef up their defense, neither party remain strong enough to win or is willing to surrender. Like the Corona impeachment trial, the development on this maritime situation will continue to surprise us.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Midweek Feb 1-3, 2012 Sec A pg.6)