PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte broached the idea of convening a meeting with his living predecessors to discuss the West Philippine Sea (WPS) dispute.It turned out to be a nonstarter. To begin with, nothing was ever heard from former president Fidel V. Ramos. And we know the reaction of former president Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino 3rd. What we would like to suggest instead is the convening of a meeting of the National Security Council, or a body to be created for the purpose by the President, to fully discuss Philippine-US relations in every aspect. It is long overdue. And it couldn't be timelier. The prevailing atmosphere in China-US relations demands it.For instance, according to his spokesman, Digong is still thinking if the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US would help us if the WPS dispute worsens. Its twice postponed abrogation is now due to take effect on August 10 this year.Our view is that the VFA, along with the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) ought to be abrogated before the WPS dispute worsens for reasons we have stated many times over in this space.Suffice it to cite at this time what Digong himself and his defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana have said, i.e., 'a military clash between the two will most certainly draw Chinese attack on the Philippines where US troops and military bases are located.'Top US government officials keep announcing to the world that an armed attack on the Philippines by China 'will trigger the activation of the MDT.' As the saying goes, 'go tell that to the Marines.' Too, if the US officials think China believes that, they have another thing coming. However, if the US offers to sit down with us to discuss the pertinent provision in the MDT that requires both parties to go through their 'constitutional processes' to activate the treaty and replace it with an 'automatic retaliation' clause, could be a different story. To begin with, China is not looking towards a military confrontation with the US. It is the latter that keeps doing and saying things that are provocative in nature to the Chinese. For instance, the US naval sail-bys in Taiwan, and the legislation now being considered in the US Congress called 'Ensuring American Global Leadership and Engagement Act,' or Eagle Act.And to think Washington is doing these when it is right now preoccupied with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, its disputes with Iran and with Russia over Ukraine, and its withdrawal from Afghanistan.In fact, the US Seventh Fleet led by the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan headquartered in Yokosuka, Japan, will reportedly be deployed to the Middle East to oversee the evacuation of US troops in Afghanistan, thus leaving the 'simmering' West Philippine Sea situation 'uncovered.'An analyst says the sudden decision of the British government to send navy ships to the South China Sea could have been at Washington's behest to fill the temporary gap left by the deployment of the USS Reagan to the Middle East.According to this paper's editorial of May 25, 2021, the British fleet is led by its biggest warship, the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by two destroyers, two frigates, a submarine and two support ships.Speculations are rife the British were 'prevailed' upon by Washington to temporarily fill the gap to be left by the US Seventh Fleet in the South China Sea - not as claimed by British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace.This paper's editorial said Wallace glowingly described the carrier strike group's mission as 'to write Britain's name in the next chapter of history - a truly global Britain that steps forward to tackle the challenges of tomorrow, working hand-in-hand with our friends to defend our shared values and uphold the rules-based international order.''Cutting through the jingoistic jargon, the flotilla's deployment simply is Britain's way of reintroducing itself as a global naval force that is ready to engage in a conflict anywhere in the world,' the editorial further said.Yeah, right. Someone ought to tell Wallace the sun has long set over the erstwhile British empire, just as its monarchy is beginning to crumble! At least, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was more prudent and realistic when he said the deployment will help to project British soft power such as a belief in democracy and the rule of law.Filipinos' colonial mentalityPathetic is how we would describe it. According to a recent survey, 63 percent of Filipinos prefer to be vaccinated against Covid-19 with US-made Pfizer or Moderna not because they have been proven to be more effective than those made in other countries such as China, Russia or the United Kingdom, but simply because it is 'US-made,' which reflects the lingering colonial mentality of the majority of Filipinos. Look where this mentality has brought us. Where we once led the pack, we are now lagging behind our Southeast Asian neighbors such as Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and believe it or not, Vietnam, which, not so long ago, was the victim of US aggression.Pathetic talaga! If only Filipinos were made aware of the fact most consumer goods that have American brands are manufactured in China, they'd most probably say 'lang-hiya, bakit tayo nag-papaloko sa mga Kano palagi?'President Rodrigo Duterte said that according to health experts, the best vaccine is 'the one that's available.''Huwag kayo mamili ng bakuna [Don't choose your vaccine], they are all good,' he said. Incidentally, Digong had himself vaccinated with the one made in China.India's yellow fungusAfter suffering from a wave of Covid-19 deaths, India now faces a reportedly more dangerous new disease than black or white fungus which affected those who were recovering from Covid-19.The new disease is called yellow fungus which was also found in a patient recovering from Covid-19.According to Dr. BP Tyagi, an otolaryngologist in the city of Ghaziabad in the state of Uttar Pradesh, yellow fungus is a potentially fatal disease caused by bad hygiene and humidity.Here, we also have people suffering from yellow fungus. They are called Yellowtards and their disease is caused by bad politics and symptoms bordering on stupidity, if not lunacy.They belong mostly to the opposition but some may also be found in the administration which only Digong can tell us why. https://www.facebook.com/reynaldo.arcilla.9847
