Duterte is correct in asking for Payment from the US for the VFA

President Rodrigo Duterte, Photo from Wikimedia Commons

In a Speech before the Philippine Air Force (PAF) recently, President Rodrigo Duterte said that the United States (US) will have to pay the Philippines if it wants to keep the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with us. 

I agree with him for a number of reasons. First is that the US has proven to be an unreliable ally, their abandonment of us in a showdown against China in Panatag Shoal in 2012 is proof of that and is almost unforgiveable, at least for me. 

The US even took the extraordinary step then of telling President Benigno Aquino Jr. NOT to send back Ships to Panatag Shoal, probably because if China attacked those Ships, they will be forced to defend us as part of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT). 

Aquino, being the good Dog to the Americans that he is (Arf, arf!!), of course did not send back the Ships then. So we should be asking from the US something up front already this time around instead of just relying on their so-called "Commitment". 

Second, as I wrote before, the US needs the Philippines very much against China because they don’t have a lot of foothold in South East Asia (SEA). China already has Hainan and their Artificial Islands around and smack in the middle of the South China Sea (SCS), but the US doesn’t have any Territories of their own in the Area.

Third, not all VFAs are the same, as far as I can tell the ones we gave them has one of the best terms that they got in terms of access to the Country.

And no other Country in SEA will give them the same kind of VFA as we have given them as other SEA Countries don't take them seriously. 

For example, back in October 2020, they asked Indonesia if they could land their P-8 Poseidon Aircraft there, and Indonesia basically told them to go and fakk themselves. 

Fourth and last, if the US is not willing to pay for the VFA, then you can bet that China will more than willing to do so, probably even much more than the US is willing to pay. 

So Digong should go to them if the US refuses to pay up. That will make the American's Filipino Dogs go absolutely ballistic, though, LOL. 

‘VFA Income’

My only hope is that whatever Payment the Philippines is able to negotiate with for that VFA, at least part of it will go for the Modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). 

And there should be no Strings attached with that Money, like for example there should be no condition that the Money should only be used to buy stuff from American Companies. We should be able to spend that Money in whatever way we want and pay it to anybody we want to pay to. 

One catch that may happen is that the US may pay the VFA using Military Equipment and Weapons as a way to keep us dependent on them. They could put Restrictions on the Equipment/Weapons, just like they did with Malaysia’s F/A-18 Hornet Aircraft. 

That we cannot allow, I think US Equipment and Weapons are okay, as long as they don't put restrictions in their use. 

'Parting Shot'

For a long time, the Americans have been trying to downplay the Philippines' importance to them strategically. Aside from the ones I mentioned above, the Philippines is also very important to them like in a Battle for Taiwan, for example. 

One of these days, I might blog about that. Instead of recognizing the Philippines importance to them, the Americans have been cultivating Filipino Dogs here that will be loyal to them and protect their interests. 

It took a Duterte to change all that. If they want to stay here, then pay up, they should be glad their Filipino Dogs allowed them to get first dibs at a VFA. 

If not, then stay out, the Philippines will find some other Country who will, no matter how many Filipino Dogs of theirs they will send. 

SOURCES: 

* Philippines' Duterte tells U.S. 'you have to pay' if it wants to keep Troop deal {Archived Link}

* U.S to PH: Stop Anti-China Rhetorics {Archived Link}

* The U.S. needs the Philippines more than China if they go to War over the South China Sea and/or Taiwan {Archived Link}

* Exclusive: Indonesia rejected U.S. request to host Spy Planes - Officials {Archived Link}

* Malaysian F/A-18 Hornet could not be programmed for use to fight another Country – Mahathir Mohamad {Archived Link}

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