Good news for both China and US firms

Asking help from the United States to defend us from Chinese imperialist intrusion at Scarborough Shoal is not an intelligent choice. Historically, at the turn of the 20th century, during the Filipino people’s struggle for freedom against Spanish colonizers, the US government proved to be a deceptive and dishonest “ally.” It promised to help our leaders drive out the Spaniards, but took over the reign of oppression when the Spaniards gave up.

During World War II, US forces surrendered to the invading Japanese and left the fighting to Filipino guerrillas. When Japanese military strength and resources waned because of the resistance movements here and abroad, US forces returned to “liberate” the country. In the process, they carpet-bombed Manila and other city centers, causing as many deaths and as much destruction, if not more, as those caused by enemy attacks and atrocities.

Thus, to defend our country, it is important to rely primarily on ourselves. One way is to instill and strengthen a genuine nationalist ideology. This can be done through the intensified teaching of history which tackles the richness of our homegrown culture and resources, the struggles of our people against colonial and imperialist aggression, and the exploitation and oppression of our workers and peasants by the privileged few who are mostly collaborators, directly or indirectly, of foreign-interest groups.

The US government has stated that it will not take sides in the Scarborough Shoal dispute but will help upgrade the military capability of our Navy. This is good news not only for China but more so for US corporations. This is a golden business opportunity that can help “oxygenate” the United States’ gasping economy, while increasing its capacity to pay China’s billions of dollars’ worth of US treasury bills. Given these, there is a great possibility that the two superpowers are playing a game on us.

Nonetheless, the Filipino people should remain resolute. Even if US (and Chinese) imperialism “is quite powerful, in reality it isn’t. It is very weak politically because it is divorced from the masses of the people… In appearance it is very powerful but in reality it is nothing to be afraid of, it is a paper tiger.” (Mao Zedong, 1956)

—JULIE L. PO

Linangan ng Kulturang Pilipino

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