By Leandro “DD” Coronel
The fourth of July is of course Independence Day in America. But it is observed as Philippine-American Friendship Day in the Philippines.
Actually, July 4th used to be Independence Day also in the Philippines, a date that was chosen by the Americans for the Filipinos for patently obvious reasons. The Filipinos celebrated that date as their Independence Day for over two decades until then-President Diosdado Macapagal changed it in the 1960s to June 12, the date when the Filipinos declared independence in 1898 from the Spaniards, who ruled the country for 400 years.
As a gesture of amity towards the Americans, the Filipinos declared July 4th as a day to celebrate the nation’s friendship with America. Filipinos have had a century-long love-hate affair with the Americans, with an infatuation that isn’t always returned by the Americans. Indeed, for a long time not too many Americans knew much about the Philippines. But these days, with the ubiquitous presence of Filipinos in the United States, Americans are more familiar with them.
But, what is the state of this friendship, which both sides call “special relations,” between America and the Philippines? Who between the two nations has benefitted more from this relationship? Is it true friendship or simply a “marriage” of convenience?
The United States is a major trading partner of the Philippines. The Philippines supplies the American market with raw materials and the United States sells finished products, usually consumer items, to the Philippines. America provides development and military “aid” to the Philippines. The word aid is in quotes because this assistance usually comes with a price — while the United States sends aid to the Philippines, it is usually priced, albeit at “discounted” rates.
The Philippines is a close ally of the United States because of the strategic location of the former in the Pacific. During the Vietnam War, in which the United States got mired for many years at tremendous cost in soldiers’ lives and war funds, the Philippines served as a staging point for America’s airplanes and ships, and as a rest-and-recreation site for US GIs.
The Philippines is also strategically located in the West Philippine Sea (or South China Sea), which is a vital shipping lane for international civilian and military ships. The United States needs a close ally to stand as sentinel in this vital ocean passage; a hostile nation in the area would be a big, inconvenient headache for the United States and other nations.
The United States also had two large military bases — one air force and one naval — in the Philippines until they were kicked out by the Philippine government in the 1990s. But until today the United States is able to use Philippine bases for temporary use and the two nations conduct joint military exercises in Philippine territory.
What does the Philippines get from this “special” arrangement?
Unlike countries like Israel, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Turkey and others, the Philippines gets pittance for its warm, almost slavish, loyalty to the United States. The Philippines has had to fight for whatever benefits and “aid” it has received from America.
The current controversy over the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea is a case in point. These islands, said to be rich in oil deposits, are being claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan and Mainland China. And yet, they’re closest to the Philippines.
Lately, China has shown aggressive behaviour in the islands, building structures there in a proprietary manner. The Philippines and Vietnam have been vocal in their objections to the Chinese incursions. China has been flexing its muscles in claiming the islands and a war of words has ensued between it and the Philippines (and also Vietnam).
And so the inevitable question has popped up. Will the United States come to the Philippines’ defence in case a shooting war erupts between China and the Philippines?
US officials had recently declared that their country would come to the Philippines’ aid in case a war breaks out between China and the Philippines. Harry Thomas, the American ambassador, and officials in Washington, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have made noises to that effect,
A Mutual Defence Treaty is in place between the two countries which calls on each country to help defend the other against an external attack in their territory. But many Filipinos are sceptical about the US’ readiness to fight a war on Philippine soil, especially against the awaken giant that is China, the second largest economic power in the world. America will find an excuse not to come to the defence of the Philippines, sceptics warn. There will always be some fine print in the treaty that will give the United States a way out, they claim.
So, will America prove to be the Philippines’ ally in case China decides to wage a war against the Philippines? That can be proven only when the shooting starts. Today we only have the word of US officials. Will their word be reliable when the time comes?
The Philippines, a weak country in terms of military might, seeks to settle the dispute through diplomatic means. And, as things are at this time, an all-out war is unlikely to happen.
But there is a danger, however remote at this time, that some skirmishes will take place on the Spratlys between Chinese and Philippine (and other) troops. Which side will America take then?
Ambassador Harry may not be one of them, but there are many Doubting Thomases in the Philippines that, when push comes to shove, the United States will take up arms against China for the sake of its special friend, the Philippines.