The current standoff on Scarborough Shoal between the Philippines and China only serves to highlight this countrys

marked inadequacy in patrolling and defending its borders. The fact that Scarborough (Panatag to Filipinos) Shoal is on the countrys continental shelf just 124 nautical miles from Zambaleswell within its 200-mile exclusive economic zonehas not stopped the Chinese from claiming it as their own. As far as they are concerned Scarborough Shoal, most of the Spratlys to the south, the Parcel Islands to the west, and a large swath of the South China Sea all belong to China. Although there are other claimants to these largely uninhabited islands aside from China, the close proximity of Scarborough Shoal and some of the Spratly islands to the Philippines would normally make the Philippine claim the strongest. Unfortunately, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are one of the most poorly equipped in the entire region. The newly acquired Frigate BRP Gregorio del Pilar and the soon to be delivered US Coast Guard Cutter Dallas are no match to the modern flotilla of naval vessels the Chinese Navy can deploy. Without jet fighters to control the skies, or submarines to guard the ships, these two frigates will be little more than sitting ducks in any battle. The situation the Philippines now finds itself in should be a wakeup call to each and every Filipino. The Philippines used to be a leaderif not the leaderin Southeast Asia half a century ago. The fact that today it has neither an army, a navy, nor an air force that can adequately defend it from outside aggressors speaks volumes as to how far the country has fallen since then. Complacency, selfishness, and mediocrity, traits that have held us down, must end. For starters, we must make sure that only the best and the brightest are elected or appointed to public officemovie actors, TV entertainers, beauty queens, even boxing champions wont cut it any longer. And public officials who use their office to enrich themselves should be quickly thrown in jail. Public service should be treated as a vocation where only the truly dedicated are given the chance to serve. Today, our boys in uniform are forced to do battle using 40-year-old frigates (our navys newest), prop-driven aircraft, and a diminutive arsenal of aging military equipment. This is so because for decades Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) brass were more interested in looking after their own pockets than looking after their own men; because a long line of commanders-in-chief (from Marcos to Arroyo) were busy salting away gold bullions or arranging their cuts off billion peso deals instead of properly equipping our military; because first the HUKs, then the NPA, the MILF, the MNLF and numerous other rebel groups would fire on our soldiers, deplete their ranks, and raid their arsenals; and finally because the Filipino people never felt incensed by any of this. If the Philippines is to stand up to the Chinese or the other claimants of the islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) Filipinos must make up for those years of neglect and properly fund their armed forces. Diplomacy alone without a credible retaliatory threat will likely be dismissed by the Chinese as well as the other claimants to those islands. A credible AFP should be the starting point to any diplomatic initiative. Can we really stand up to China? The answer is NO. It's a case of David versus Goliath. China is a world power with a mighty military to back it. It will be better or practical if our govt diplomatically arrange a deal or a compromise to resolve this sensitive issue. As compared to other Asian countries our military is poorly equipped led by corrupt officials..be it on land, air, or sea. Any naive claim that we are capable of defending or offsetting a confrontation is pure myth. China is a giant in the world as compared to the Phils, a struggling country in Asia. So, let's just make a deal with the Mandarins & forget this notion that we are capable of defending our territory.

Are you kidding? Let's expand the question. The way things are in the Philippines can it win anything at all? What was it that those politicians were saying when they turned the Americans away? Nationalism. Sovereignty. Danger of Nuclear attack. Then the Tans and the Sys and the GoKongweis took over the economy. Truth to tell it does not have to be China to give the Philippines some problems. Any country in the region can do that and there's nothing the Philippines can do. And to look to America now for help and assistance is just about the most pathetic thing the Philippines can do. What goes around comes around I'd say. Waging a war is against the Philippine Constitution. But a Defensive War would be possible if they attack us first. I suggest you leave the Chinese who are living in the Philippines alone if you harm them it will only make the Chinese Communist government angrier and many of our countrymen who work in China could be harmed. War against China is like sending a grade school boy to fight in the ring with Manny Pacquio. Outcome will be clear and Philippine can be erased from theMap. The U.S. or countries considered friends will not be risking lives to help the Philippines which is a very tiny market and nothing to gain, whilst China is the biggest Market in Asia having second largest Military Power in the world.So do not even think about Going to War unless the people are prepared to fight to the last man.I think having a Nuclear Weapon like N.Korea ,Iran,India,Pakistan ,Israel etc. is necessary for diplomatic solutions.I like the Philippines and I pray that nothing stupid like War occurs.

Really?Do you think US and any other countries you mentioned would risk their people's lives just to protect us??der might be a possibility that they might help us by giving us some of their weapons. I know you'll disagree with this,& even though I hate to say this but philippines has no match for china,they have a big army, weapons and a lot of things.I just h8 it, when it comes to this u people are always saying "US will help us and kick their arses!". Let us put it this way, what if the us will not help us just in case,now what???think b4 u say anything. Sana dpat mgppray nlng tau na Hindi yan matutuloy.

Pleased advise the President that our government must buy new fighter jets as our first line of defense for external or internal aggression for the security of our Country or if we can't buy now at least we must have rockets, interceptors, and other equipment such as high-tech radar that can detect intruders in our country, we must stand strong in our claimed territory such as Scarborough shoal we must construct a small pier for our Navy ships. Otherwise our marine endangered species will all be gone. Yes I believe U.S.A. will help our country but before they arrive we are already conquered. That's why we must be prepared to modernized our Armed Forces; land, sea & specially air. Thank you & more power.