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The Childhood friend or Best friend?
JOHN ROI BLAS
With the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) afoot, the Philippines has been experiencing changes with its relationship between the two most influential countries, The United States (US) and The People’s republic of China.
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Uncle Sam and the sleeping giant has had a long lasting rivalry due to the two currently being in the argument of the most influential and powerful nation. The Pearl of the Orient Sea is currently between the two titans. With continous conflicts showing us that we need to stand with either of the countries, but who should we align ourselves with?
China has been a long-running ally and supporter of the Philippines, with the two establishing bilateral relations between them in 1975. The Red Dragon is currently our country’s biggest supporter with a worth of 22,010 US mil with a 23.15% partner share, which towers on the US’ 7,404 US mil at a 7.79% share according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). It is not a stretch to say that China has done more economically for the Philippines compared to the US with the middle kingdom also being one of our first allies.
On the other hand, the US is the second largest import partner of the rising tiger of Asia, only behind Japan who has a valued 10,034 US mil to the US’ 10,026 mil according to the same statistics released by the DTI. It is impressive that the US could keep up with China in terms of benefits given to the Philippines despite being on the other side of the world with a distance of 13,208 KM away from each other.
While China has supported the Philippines for a longer time, the fact that both countries continue to support us instead of abandoning us after a while is nothing to scoff at. While it is arguable on which of the two has done more for our humble nation, it is indisputable that both giants have massively aided us and that we should be grateful to both.
With this being said, it is only right to proceed with out current approach. In the words of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. we need to be a “Friend to all and enemy to none”.
