Your Say: PHL-US military alliance divides readers

Most of our readers will not dispute that the Philippines has sovereignty over Panatag Shoal, currently the center of an escalating territorial standoff with China. But the country's dependence on the United States of America for achieving a "minimum credible defense" has been hotly debated. The two nations, which completed extensive war games in April, are bound by a mutual defense treaty in which the United States has pledged to come to the aid of its weaker ally if it faces military aggression.  Here's what some of our readers have to say, as curated from our Disqus comment system: From Jamfrance, who approves of the increased military aid the US has committed to the Philippines:    "This is great news. The PHL needs Uncle Sam's help now more than ever. PNoy's goverment is worth entrusting this help especially in the face of China's obvious attempts to bully the PHL seas to test if Uncle Sam is still there for good old PHL. The pledge is not all cash as the US is known to provide logistics, training or manpower, etc. to those they help. Second hand or not those are stuff the PHL do not have and are of good caliber as well. Let;s just be thankful for the aide. The entire AFP have good men left and all they have to do is match the US' effort to help them to help upgrade their knowledge and training in defending the country to all foreign and local aggressors if needed."   From Truthrus, who thinks the military funds should be maximized through proper allocation:   "Wow $500M for 10 years that was huge guys. Irregardless of the amount of what our country is receiving, bottom line is do we use it properly, have we improved our security, what have we done to preserve and improve our military? Issues and problems from the past are still here like uniforms, firearms and benefits for our military are not settled. Question of when and how such as when it will happen and how it will be solved? It is not for us to answer these questions but it is we who need to remind them." From torogi, who thinks the Philippines could as well be another American state if dependence on the US continues:   "Tama ka Gella. If until now the Philippines is always asking for US help (BALAS, HINGI) and the majority of Millionaires in our country are those connected to government service like our public officials - congresmen, senators, high ranking officcers of the AFP, departmnet directors, judges of the supreme court and etc. and the majority of the Filipinos are jobless and all sectors of social services is very poor, IT IS BETTER TO ANNEX THE PHILIPPINES AS ANOTHER US STATE as it indicates that what so called the Republic of the Philippines was never fulfilled and maintained. This is the only way to give a chance and physical bright future to majority of poor Filipinos."   From Rsunga, who suggests that the Philippines should rethink its strategy against China:   "These past weeks, China has been bullying, provoking  and escalating the stand-off at Panatag Shoal against  the Phil. while Chinese fishing vessels are stealing from our marine resources and their surveillance ships prevent our Coast Guard from arresting & confiscating these fishing vessels in our own territory. And to add insult to that, our own government is not allowing our local fishermen from doing their fishing livelihood at the Panatag Shoal which is within our 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone. Our gov’t  should re-think it’s strategy of peaceful diplomacy which only increases China’s aggressive behavior day-by-day. Our  gov’t  should match this intimidation even though we are many times militarily weaker bec. China won’t have the guts to invade our country due to our Mutual Defense Treaty with the US. China can only escalate the confrontation up to the nine-dotted line it claims. Our gov’t.  should start allowing our fisherfolk to fish within our EEZ and protect them with speedboats manned by the Coast Guard armed with bazookas. This is the cheapest way of protecting our territory bec. our  gov’t. has the money to purchase all the locally available speedboats and just modify it for coastal duty. Our armed-speedboats has the advantage over Chinese warships bec. of the nearness of Spratly Island and Panatag shoals to our mainland. Our armed-speedboats just need air support from at least several squadrons of F-16s to protect it from Chinese long-range combat planes. I hope the AFP knows about this and should start planning. We have every legal right to defend our territory under any international law. PNoy start sending 10 armed speedboats for every vessel that China sends to the Panatag Shoal and let our fisherman continue their livelihood with their bancas to show China that it cannot just bully us." From Marrojas1, who believes that the US military bases should be returned:    "Hindi po basta-basta ang mag-upgrade o magpalakas ng military capability. Time at maraming pera. Kulang ang hundreds of millions of dollars. Sa US, ang pinakamalaking budget ay ang military. Trillions of dollars just to keep up with all the threats. China also spends Billions. paano tayo makakalaban sa isang bansa na ang military nila ay napakalaki ang budget? Operating cost pa lang aabot na sa Billions of dollars, paano pa yong logistic, weapon development etc. ... And even if we try to put more money sa military natin, paano naman yong mga mangagawa natin gusto ng mas mataas ang sahod, mga illegal settlers na nagwe-welga dahil gusto bigyan sila ng gobyerno ng pera etc.... for sure, aangal yang mga yan gusto sila muna unahin. Best solution is to have the US bases back here. Let the US spend trillions to defend our national security and while they are here, can create jobs and help the local economy. This is the easiest way strengthen our defense."   From princejuan, who thinks the Philippines should be grateful for receiving any military aid from the US at all:   "wag tayo masyadong umangal. buti nga may binibigay na tulong eh. wala tayong dapat sisihin sa sitwasyon natin but those leaders that we have in the pass na umabuso sa bayan natin. 2002 napakalaki yung tulong na ibinigay sa atin compare to now.eh may nakita ba tayo kahit isang second hand na barko pandigma?wala.saan pumunta yung tulong?doon sa mga generals..pabaon.kaya tayo kawawa tayo ngayon.the weakest link nga sabi ni del rosario eh.yung pakistan malaki binibigay ng US c of pakistan laban sa jihadist although balimbing yung pakistan.aside the US is really operating inside pakistan through their drones.eh kung dito kaya ginawa ng US yan baka nagwala na parang asong rabbied yung mga makabayan natin.balikatan nga lang nag vandalized na ng US embassy yung mga makabayan.ano pa kaya kapag nag operate na inside philippine territory?kaya mag isip muna tayo bago mag comment againts US.nag uumpisa pa lng tayo building back the trust of US to us.we are considering ourselves an ally to US now that we have crises againts china but before we pulled out our troops in iraq when we sense danger.isa sa mga factors yan.we expect americans to die for us but we dont have the gutts to drop even a blood for them in iraq war.that's ridiculous for an ally.isa pa na factor, US is under the democrats ngayon kaya expect that kind of aid. hintay tayo na republican yung maupo sa white house and that aid will be doubled due to foreign policy of republicans." What's your say? - AM/HS, GMA News