Our decision to grant Japan military bases is similar to the status of US bases when we granted them under EDCA
When the Philippines sought to establish military bases in the country, it should have reckoned its status on which country it seeks to align.
In other words, any country which seeks to align with other states must have in mind the concept of protecting and securing its own interest, and this must not violate sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The absence of these precepts that may give that qualification to be called a “state” simply does not give the Philippines a valid reason why we should grant to Japan the right to establish military bases similar to that of EDCA.
First, the grant of foreign military bases is unconstitutional, meaning it is prohibited for us to grant military bases here.
This means we have to amend our own charter just to accommodate Japan to have their troops stationed in the country or we sign a waiver of jurisdiction to that state that opts to station their troops in this country.
Second, granting Japan the right to establish military bases here will wholly redefine our relations with China.
This means we no longer consider China as our friend.
Allowing Japan to have their bases here will change our relations with China that will affect our diplomatic, political, economic and trade relations with the latter.
Once we allow Japan to establish their bases here, automatically it would mean we no longer treat China as our friendly neighbor because, impliedly, we have joined the US-created alliance for the sole purpose of isolating China in the Indo-Pacific region.
Why should the Philippines seek an alliance with Japan?
An alliance with our former enemy takes a totally radical interpretation.
First, it means the country needs Japan more than its desire to have us as an ally.
Quantifying our economic and trade benefits we derive in our relations with China, the country gained more economically with China than with Japan.
We are now on the verge of losing large investment like the proposed fast Chinese railway transit, the extension of our railway to Mindanao, increased in electronic imports from China, assurance of China imports like most of our agricultural products.
Allowing Japan to establish military bases in the Philippines does not provide a guaranty that it will come to our rescue in the event of an attack from China.
Even the existence of the US military bases in this country does not guarantee the US will come to our rescue in case of an attack by China over Taiwan.
Our country is taking more of an active surrogate lackey of the US in the region, thus making our position odious.
The Philippines became the first country to offer its territory as sort of wanting to appease our ally whose loyalty has gradually been diminished and tarnished since WWII.
Our grant to Japan the right to establish military bases in the country would require constitutional ratification while we cannot demand the bases here will be approved by their own Constitution.
The President who might violate this prohibition may be subjected to impeachment.
Remember, the US violation of our Constitution is an example of American arbitrariness and arrogant exercise of unilateralism.
Just the same, we violated our Constitution when gave in to US demand to isolate China.
If not just the possible attack by China over the island of Taiwan, but, as an ally, we are also required to pursue a policy of economically isolating China.
The Philippines stands to economically suffer because of the isolationist policy implemented by the US against China.
When the country opted to follow the US demand to isolate China, we actually lost our chance to economically progress.
We have lost the race to build the first high speed railway.
China has shelved the forgotten north railway line which was envisioned to revive the old railway from Manila to Dagupan and to the south going to Sorsogon.
We lost the race to sell our fruits to China and the chance for the country to rehabilitate our rice production industry which was shattered after our only fertilizer plant was privatized and closed down so the owner returned to their old habit of monopoly.
Our decision to grant Japan military bases is similar to the status of US bases when we granted them under EDCA.
Our right to defend Taiwan should come if China attacks the Philippines but not in the defense of that island.
rpkapunan@gmail.com
