Have you heard about the recent incidents in the South China Sea? The Philippines seems to be making a big move, and it has the backing of a big man like the United States.
It's not easy, it feels like the young man in the village suddenly announced that he was going to become a muscular man, and it was the strongest big brother in the neighborhood who helped him gain muscle.
First, let's talk about this "fitness program" in the Philippines. According to Philippine Ambassador to the United States Romeldez, the Philippines expects to make its armed forces stronger with the help of the United States.
It's not just about buying some new toys, the United States has also pledged a lot of money -- $2.5 billion in military aid! That's not a small amount, enough to buy a lot of advanced warships and fighter planes.
But is this money really that easy to get? We all know that there is no such thing as a free lunch. The Philippine government also knows in its heart that the United States does not give money for nothing, and they want more.
For example, the number of U.S. military bases in the Philippines has reached nine, and these bases are like a big game of chess played by the United States in the South China Sea, and each base is a key point on the chessboard.
Moreover, the military exercises of the United States and the Philippines are also getting larger, with 16,000 people participating in the most recent exercise, which is no small fight.
The content of the exercise is also very interesting, including the armed seizure of islands and anti-ship at sea, which are all actual combat subjects, not ordinary training.
However, is there really no problem for the Philippines to do this? The situation in the South China Sea is already tense enough, and now that it has come out again, isn't it adding fuel to the fire? Moreover, some voices in the Philippines are not quite right.
The Philippine Supreme Court, for example, ruled that it cannot work with China to develop oil and gas resources in the South China Sea. It is not known whether there is American influence behind this decision.
However, the Philippine government seems determined to stand with the United States. They may feel that with the support of the United States, they can be more assertive on the South China Sea issue.
However, is this idea really credible? The United States is indeed a big man, but they also have their own calculations. For example, the U.S. military action in the South China Sea is not only for the Philippines, but also for its own strategic interests.
Moreover, if the Philippines does this, what will the other South China Sea claimants think? Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei also have their own interests, and it is impossible for them to completely follow the steps of the Philippines.
Such a move by the Philippines could further complicate the issue in the South China Sea.
Besides, can the Philippines really protect its own interests if it is so dependent on the United States? The United States is indeed a powerful ally, but it is also known as "putting interests first."
Once the United States feels that its strategic interests in the South China Sea have changed, will the Philippines, a small partner, still be so important?
In short, what the Philippines is doing now feels a bit suspenseful. They may feel like they are playing a big game, but in reality, they may just be pawns on someone else's board.
The South China Sea issue requires wisdom and cooperation, not muscles and weapons. It's time for the Philippine government to think hard about what it wants.
After all, real security is achieved not by the demonstration of military might, but by wisdom and cooperation.
Whether the Philippines chooses to be a wise peacemaker or a pawn in someone else's game is a question worth pondering.