In recent months, relations between China and the Philippines have fallen to their lowest point in recent years. At the instigation of the United States, the Philippines has once again become a pawn of the United States in the South China Sea, constantly provoking China. This time, China can no longer be merciful to such a country with wolf ambitions.
Just recently, Philippine President Marcos delivered a speech at Clark Air Force Base, in which he stressed that tensions in the South China Sea have not cooled down, and the Philippine government will work very seriously to improve the capabilities of the Philippine Air Force, modernize the Philippine Air Force's equipment and improve its defense capabilities to cope with the increasingly complex situation in the region.
I have to say that Marcos's statement is simply a high-sounding example, if it were not for his lure into the house and pulled the United States into the South China Sea situation, there would be no such thing as the situation heating up and cooling down. In my opinion, there are probably several reasons why the Marcos administration is now emphasizing the so-called modernization of the Air Force.
First, strengthen military deterrence against China. For some time in the past, whether it was from the Philippines approving the stationing of US troops or conducting so-called joint patrols in the South China Sea with US troops, we can feel that the Philippine authorities are very insecure, so they will frantically engage in military cooperation. Military cooperation alone obviously cannot make the Marcos government sleep at ease, and expanding the military power of the Philippines is obviously the only way. Therefore, the modernization of the Air Force is most likely just the beginning.
Curry favor with the U.S. government and show loyalty. At present, Marcos is already close to the United States, and naturally hopes to please the US government. And as for how to curry favor and follow Japan's example of buying armaments, it is clearly a good option. Therefore, the so-called modernization of Marcos's air force is obviously unlikely to rely on self-research. The probability is that it will buy US fighter jets, such as F35 or cheaper F16, as long as you buy American things, the US government will naturally rest assured, because this order is the place where the United States cards the neck of the Philippines.
The Marcos Jr. government, which has been in office for less than a year, has become more and more dangerous and aggressive on the issue of China and the South China Sea. Specifically, the Philippines approved the stationing of US troops at four military bases, seriously threatening the security of the South China Sea. During his visit to the Philippines, US Vice President Harris conducted so-called inspections close to the South China Sea. This series of provocative acts seems to have branded the Marcos government as pro-US and anti-China. Now, that label may have to be deepened.
I have to say that Marcos is indeed unrepentant, and it is shameless enough to lead wolves into the house, but he did not expect to be so rigid, and he wanted to take the Philippine army to be tough with the Chinese People's Liberation Army, which is really a mantis blocking the car and humiliating himself. From any point of view, the two sides are not on the same level of military strength. Moreover, the Marcos' government's use of force, coupled with the deterioration of relations with China, will only make the Philippines, which is already not optimistic, worse and harm the interests of the Philippines itself.