WITH THE UNITED STATES
After years of ranting against the United States, president Duterte decides to keep the controversial Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
Through an announcement that the VFA will no longer be abrogated confirms that after facing US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, Duterte retreated from his bluster last January 2020, with its "formal notice of termination" a month later. Using the mask of "anti-Americanism", Duterte's bluster was borne out of outrage over the US cancellation of the visa of his ally, Senator and former Police Director-General Ronald Dela Rosa, who actively took part in the "war against drugs" during the early years of the presidency.
“The President decided to recall or retract the termination letter for the VFA. So the VFA is in full force again. There is no termination letter pending and we are back on track,” said Defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.
Furthermore, this withdrawal of threat to terminate the agreement was secured by the recent decision of the US State Department to allow the sale of more $2.1 billion worth of military weapons and war matériel; and the initial delivery of ₱183 million worth of weapons, equipment last June 21; as well as ₱48.5 million worth of munitions last July 8. A week ago, the US government also delivered millions of Jannsen vaccines as part of its vaccine diplomacy to ensure the VFA’s continuation. These convinced Duterte to end his make-believe threats against the VFA.
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It is not surprising this move brought by Duterte. Be it because he is in need of foreign aid for his war against the rebel forces to those of need for vaccines from US-based pharmaceuticals, Duterte's retreat from his "termination statement" shows that he tries to further secure support from the armed forces for his regime, knowing some of the officer corps in the armed forces are raised in Fort Bragg or West Point after they finished their degrees in Baguio. Furthermore, this may also in an attempt to divide the opposition- especially in a time people disagreeing with Duterte and his pro-China stance and thus trying to upheld the VFA and other agreements with the United States as a "countermeasure", and a means to curry favour the Biden administration whose Democratic party initially against Duterte with the Magnitsky act and the cancellation of Dela Rosa's visa.
However, this make believe stance of Duterte failed to appease the patriots who wished to see a real non-aligned foreign policy. As said earlier, his anti-American stance, despite initially acknowledged, turns out to be a hollow rhetoric driven by personal discontent. His appeasement with the Chinese also fueled popular anger as he himself dismissed the decision as a "worthless piece of paper" while claiming that "he will defend the disputed islands" against a growing Chinese threat.
But again, for Duterte, this is all but a joke, a hollow rhetoric meant to appease the people as any other traditional politician who promises "reform" and "change."
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For sure Duterte's supporters and those against him expressed skepticism about the president's retreat from his earlier "anti-American" message. But, does American support will truly counter the growing Chinese threat? Will the opposition, especially the traditional ones still cling to the thought that American assistance meant improvement? Wouldn't be surprised if the United States will force the Filipino to pay like what happened in South Korea, with then-president Trump said Seoul should pay more. But, Filipinos still thinks that American support is free of charge if not "affordable" as its second-hand weapons and armour! Not even surprising if the weapons meant to defend the country against China are rather used to consolidate the order amidst growing opposition as the recent killing of activists in Bicol, the massacre of Lumads in Surigao del Sur, the massacre of peasants in Masbate and the relentless killings under Duterte’s drug war- and these are made by the men American legislators clamoured to suspend military aid to the Philippines in the face of widespread military and police abuses and violations of human rights.
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Pardon for the thought, but neither from Wall Street or Shanghai bund will save the nation. Supporters of the agreement may still cling to their thought that the United States of America is the "free world" fighting against the "evil empires" of China and Russia. But, is the Filipino forgot that they're supposed to be non-aligned the way it joined the Non-Aligned Movement? Indonesia for instance, stopped the Chinese from intruding its waters; even Vietnam with its bloodiest battles against the China in the 80s (with China claiming they got the road leading to Hanoi yet having massive casualties). Both may have got substantial western support but did they require sacrificing their sovereignty? Sadly to say, the problem amongst Filipinos is its vassal-like mindset with thoughts of "tranquility" as one great power willing to defend them even it requires sacrificing their will to be themselves.