USS Chicago visiting Philippines is a nuclear submarine

USS Chicago is a nuclear submarine

Just eleven days and the United States is already sending its first class fighters in the Philippines. The first to arrive is the USS Chicago, a tough, battle scarred attack submarine responsible for thousands of enemies killed at Desert Storm.

Nothing wrong except that, I understand that in the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) signed by President Noynoy Aquino and US president Barack Obama some 11 days back, the purpose why this agreement exists is for the US military to train and empower or equip Philippine troops of knowledge and prepare them for any eventuality.

This is a submarine. Do we have a submarine? How in the hell will Philippine troops benefit from this?

And then it really hits home. The official statement released by the US embassy is that the USS Chicago is here for a "port call" and it will dock at Subic Bay, a former naval base abandoned by the US when the MBA was scrapped in 1991, now an economic zone, peopled by Chinese firms.

What is the purpose of the "port call"? It is for rest and recreation or "R&R", the very same despicable term often read by Filipinos during the time when the Americans were really the ones managing those naval and air bases.

So, the visit is really not for training our troops, but for Americans to enjoy the hospitality of our enslaved women sex workers based in Zambales. Why R&R when they are supposed to be training our troops?

Likewise, I remember our Constitution and it prohibits nuclear weapons from entering our territory. Of course, defenders out there would say that the sub does not have nuclear weapons, therefore the visit does not violate the Constitutional provision.

Crap. They probably forgot that the SUBMARINE ITSELF IS A NUCLEAR WEAPON, a diving modern weapon using a nuclear reactor.

What RP must do in relation to the China-RP standoff in the Spratlys

China, or whoever caused this great stress between China-RP relations chose an appropriate setting to escalate the tension and bring it eventually, to war. First, it chose the Scarborough shoal, a group of rocks which is near Philippine territory and a bit far off from the disputed Spratlys island group. Scarborough shoal is an issue personal between China and the Philippines. It is not being claimed by other claimants or let me rephrase this--Scarborough shoal is not as politically sensitive as the other groups of islets and islands that form the Spratlys. Even if a shooting war breaks out between China and the Philippines, this war will not drag other claimants into the fray, preventing a regional war.


Historically, the battle for Scarborough shoal has been more of a diplomatic dispute rather than actual skirmish. However, China has been persistently active in its push to claim these islands. What the Philippine government does not reveal is the fact that China has built several structures there before and even maintained an active patrolling stance since the eighties. It is now the first time that the Philippines stood its ground against China.


Diplomacy is still the best for both governments. A naval skirmish will drag the United States into it, which, will effect three (3) results: First, it will test China's naval strength which, based on estimates, is still far inferior than the United States. Second, a humiliating defeat of China's fleet will decrease China's influence over the region, affect its dominating status and cause a power reconfiguration in the region. Lastly, a war between China and the US will affect trade in the region and will shift the flow of global investments from Asia to Europe. The US will be able to salvage its reputation as a Pacific military power and an investment or trade shift will reinvigorate Europe and avoid plunging that region towards a full-blown economic winter.
(more on this later)


Really, a war anywhere is a necessity to prevent a further slide of the global economy into recession. That war, unfortunately, should involve Asia. A peaceful Asia harms businesses elsewhere. A destabilized Asian region dispenses capital equally. 


Now, what do I suggest the Philippine government must do to manage this crisis. First, it should continue diplomacy. Diplomacy is still the best option for the Philippines and for China. If both groups exhibit honesty in the negotiating table and choose the path of peace instead of war, this benefits both countries since they will not play into the hands of war globalists who think a war is the best solution against the worsening global state of the economy.


The Philippine government must take a hard stance since in the eyes of the world, it is fighting for sovereignty. Logic dictates that the shoal is owned by the Philippines due to its proximity. In a war of perceptions, China loses to the Philippines hands down.


The next steps that the Philippines will take will be watched closely due to its sensitivity. The first one is choosing the best person to represent the country before China. Right now, there is no Philippine ambassador to China. Pnoy's appointee, Manuel Ong, is not just unfit for the job; but an obvious liability. Ong is perceived to be very close to China. 


Pnoy must appoint someone who knows China by serving as an observer. Meaning, this person should have a previous experience of looking in even from the outside. Ambassador Basilio is one such person. 


It harms Philippine interests if such amateurs like, say Chito Sta Romana is designated as ambassador. For one, Sta. Romana is a staunch Maoist. He has stayed in China for several decades as a dissident, and his loyalty is questionable. Whose interests will Sta. Romana pursue when push comes to shove?


A seasoned diplomat is needed in this time, a person who can speak like a Romulo, act like a Siazon and be firm like a del Rosario.  Time to hire a true-blue Patriot to deal with a bully such as China.


The Philippine decision to send a delegation to the State department is not a very welcome move since this action plays in the hands and plans of globalists. Why send a delegation when the Philippines is still not yet in war? Besides, it is axiomatic for the US to help the Philippines in case the shooting war starts because of the mutual defense treaty.


By sending a delegation there in the United States shows two things: first, it shows the vassal-master character of US-RP relations. Why report to the US when the only thing that is happening right now is a naval standoff? Second, it is a sign of weakness. Why go to Big brother when this thing can be resolved diplomatically?


Lastly, the Philippines must step up the propaganda war against China. The government must be made to realize that the eventual winner of this dispute is the one most vocal and most active in asserting its rights. The Philippines will survive a war against China if it enjoys the backup of the rest of the international community. Without this, the Philippines stands naked and vulnerable before China.

Barack Obama congratulates Noynoy Aquino

US President Barack Obama and Philippine president-elect Noynoy Aquino just spoke over the phone this morning. Obama congratulated Aquino for being the 15th president of the Republic. He also invited Aquino to a meeting soon at the White House.

Earlier, the Chinese government also extended its warmest congratulations to the son of the country's democracy icons, whose phenomenal and surprising win caught the country by surprise.

Unlike his predecessor Mrs. Arroyo, Aquino did not seek Obama's call. It was the US president himself who called the newly proclaimed President of the Republic, without any prodding from Aquino's camp. This shows how high the US regards the new administration.

The US and the Philippines are long-time allies. Under the Aquino administration, the relationship is expected to continue and probably, be warmer than the previous dispensation.

It remains to be seen, however, how the Philippines will deal with contentious issues with the US, especially the Visiting Forces Agreement or VFA. This deal, which certain quarters have demanded a review, remains a thornish issue between the two nations. Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has demanded for a rescission of the deal, following certain incidents of violations committed by the visiting US forces.

Will Aquino call for a review of the country's defense treaties with the US?

In a highly classified paper I read, the Philippines is regarded right now as the most important ally in Southeast Asia by the United States. Apart from its strategic location, the Philippines is also being eyed as the diplomatic ally of the US in the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation). APEC is becoming the region's equivalent to the European Union (EU). US trade will be affected should APEC decides to implement a one currency policy in the region and further strengthen its plans of creating a One Asian market.

The Philippines is also a very strategic defense partner of the United States. Both countries have been closely cooperating in the fight against terrorism. US forces based in Mindanao have been seen fighting side by side with their Filipino counterparts in Basilan and Jolo, two islands known for cuddling the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). Apart from helping gather intelligence data, the US also supplies Philippine troops with sophisticated weapons and trains them on counter-terrorism. This will, undoubtedly, continue under the Aquino administration.

What is under a cloud of doubt though is how will the Philippines position itself with regards to the Korean question. North Korean just attacked a sub of its compatriots in the South and the US is keenly observing the situation. Former Philippine president Gloria Arroyo just visited the North and renewed ties with Asia's rogue state, and we all know how the previous dispensation has strong ties with China, who is a supporter of North Korea.

Will the Philippines support the US position or remains "neutral" in deference to its other ally, China.

RP-China relations have been warm and accommodating since 2001. Most governmental projects were granted to China, even those involving sensitive industries, like the telecommunications. Now, will the Aquino administration continue these deals, especially those involving the exploitation of our natural resources?

As what the president-elect told the media in his first press conference yesterday, shortly after he is proclaimed as President, Aquino said he will review everything so that the most concrete and accurate solution will be given.

Barack to meet Arroyo at White House. Why???

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DILG Role in Nicole Recantation

What's the role played by DILG Undersecretary Marius Corpus in securing a compromised agreement between the parties of Suzette (Nicole) Nicolas, the alleged Subic rape victim, and convicted rapist Lance Corporal Daniel Smith?

Remember that last year, Corpus was sent to the US embassy to look after Smith. There were reports last year of an attempt by the US government to send Smith home.

Was Corpus visit to the US embassy one of many meetings that led to the eventual recantation of Nicole? Are those visits official negotiations between the US and Philippine governments in relation to the eventual reversal of the conviction of Smith?

In an interview late last year, Corpus was heard over ABS-CBN 2 telling us that there are indications that "this issue would be resolved soon." Was that a slip of the tongue?

If Corpus had a hand in the negotiations that led to Nicole's trip abroad last January, then, this provides introvertible proof that there was a government-to-government involvement in Nicole's case. And for what?

To secure the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

China triumphs with the loss of Kalayaan

Last night, the Senate passed the modified version of the Baselines bill. This version, our sources say, is the one "approved" by the Chinese government. Essentially, the bill conveniently excluded the seas and oceans between the Kalayaan Islands and Scarborough shoals under our regime of islands, which, effectively means that we don't own those prime properties. This is the official abandonment of our claims to these islands which were discovered by a Filipino and occupied by Filipinos.

It's now up to the President to sign the bill and pass it to the UNCLOS or the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea. The UN will take note of this and put it as our answer to numerous queries on our definite position regarding this contentious issue.

If Arroyo signs this into law, this act alone would effectively demolish decades of positioning we took before regional and world bodies in relation to Kalayaan and Scarborough shoals. It laid waste millions of pesos we spent in legal research and trips abroad when we tried to convince the world that these oil-rich islands are ours.

Now, what would then happen to our "part" in the joint exploration agreement? Surely, China and Vietnam would squirm at giving us our share in the proceeds of this joint exploration since we now claim that these islands are not part of official Philippine territory.

So, do we benefit from this baselines bill? No. Who now rejoices at this one? Of course, China.

As I wrote in previous entries, this government is selling prime Philippine property at break-neck speed, possibly because it's only a few months before they write finis to their evil governance. This bill is the biggest real estate sellout in history. After giving our Zambales mines to China and at least 20% of our agricultural lands for the food security requirements of the Chinese, we are now giving away precious oil resources for a measly sum of US$ 8 billion when we could have asked foreign companies to develop these resources and mine those undersea oil.

We say, we're weak and we're not in the position to negotiate or sustain our claims to these islands. That's not reason enough. This is the golden age of diplomacy. And it's far-fetched that China would go to war with us simply because of Kalayaan. We have the Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States. This is a statute which protects us from future foreign invasions.

What this shows is that China is officially now the biggest shadow behind the Philippine government. China now influences policy-making in the Philippines, which is not at all surprising, given that we do have strong ties with the Bamboo Curtain long before the West arrived in our shores. We just reverted back to our pre-Spanish situation where early Filipinos give tributes to the Chinese emperor.

Now, it seems, that we have China in our back while we gnawl and snarl at Uncle Sam. How things have changed. It just shows you that we don't need a Joma Sison to turn this country into a protectorate of China. We just need an Arroyo, teaming up with an Enrile, a Santiago and a Nograles to make this a reality which Joma and the rest of the guys tried for forty years to do.