The Constitution says that troops can be in the Philippines if there's a treaty that provides for it, and we have two treaties with the United States.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
The Philippines is for the Philippines. We can defend ourselves.
The Philippines was with the U.S. in the Second World War, in the Korean War, in the Vietnam War, and now in the war against terrorism.
We may disagree among ourselves, but let us never lose sight of that greater battle for one people, one country, one Philippines.
The Philippines and the U.S. have had a strong relationship with each other for a very long time now. We have a shared history. We have shared values, democracy, freedom, and we have been in all the wars together in modern history, the World War, Second World War, Cold War, Vietnam, Korea, now the war on terrorism.
We in the Philippines know we have to perform our own role in terms of promoting peace in the world. We are actually members of the U.N. peacekeeping forces in many areas.
Obviously, the Philippines or any regional state can never match Chinese defense spending, but we will have to develop minimum deterrence capabilities that allow us to resist and inflict sufficient retaliation if China continues to undermine Philippine territorial integrity.
The United States is a key ally, a strategic partner, and a reliable friend of the Philippines.
I really do not know. I really do not know how to solve the problem of the Philippines. I cannot be the savior of this republic.
The Philippines must ensure that it adopts, as much as possible, an equi-balancing strategy towards both China and America. To push back against Chinese adventurism by deepening Philippine dependence on another power runs counter to the very logic of protecting its national sovereignty.
Even before 9/11, the Philippines was already fighting terrorism in southwestern Philippines. That's why when 9/11 happened, we could understand the pain.
No opposing quotes found.