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© Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Japan, Philippines to step up security ties amid China worry
By MARI YAMAGUCHI TOKYO©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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Desert Tortoise
Philippines is too corrupt and unstable to trust. The US was burned in 1992 when their Senate voted to expel US forces. I understand the geostrategic concerns fully but looking at who is campaigning to replace the current Philippine President does not give me confidence in their future. They seem to go from bad to worse.
Addfwyn
May not be something I say too often, but I definitely agree with Desert Tortoise here 100%. Philippines just doesn't seem like a particularly reliable ally, especially given the current political trends there.
Maybe in a world where Marcos doesn't win, but the last time I checked he had a pretty big lead. Even then, Robredo has a lot of work to do.
Desert Tortoise
I remember the Philippines during the reign of Ferdinand Marcos, pimple faced kids in black fatigues walking around with loaded M-16s, sandbagged Army checkpoints with big .50 cal machine guns stopping traffic on the roads, and after when Corazon Aquino was President. Night and day difference. Now the Philippines is sliding back into those former dark times. Btw, I still have a couple of the yellow People Power shirts, but I with the years I have kind of out grown them O_o
Peter14
Agree with DT that Philippines is too unstable in the leadership area to be front line allies. Not including them at all would be a mistake also so some contacts on a 2 x 2 basis is worthwhile.
We need to keep them in the loop and on our side in the hope their leadership improves sooner rather than later. They can be a valuable ally with a position that is strategically important in terms of ports and airstrips.