The 378-foot Hamilton-class cutter is a decommissioned United States Coast Guard patrol vessel that the Philippines was able to acquire under the United States Excess Defense Act.
Good news! 10-thumbs-up for the government on this move. 400-million is small price to pay for our country's defense.
But let's accept the reality.
1. The vessel is a patrol frigate, it is not primarily designed for assault / frontal naval confrontation.
2. Funds have to be allotted annually for it's supplies, operations, maintenance and particularly ammunition. This will cost hundreds of million of pesos more.
3. One patrol vessel is not enough to do the job in securing Spratlys. China navy can easily spot and shut down that vessel once it is sent to Sprtalys, if they wanted to because they know it does not have a back-up.
Look I am not being pessimistic but this is the reality. The past news are showing how China is imposing itself in the region. They even now have the audacity to warn or in a sense threaten the US not to mingle on the issues between China and other Asian countries.
The best long term option for the Philippines in terms of regional security is to bring back the US bases in the Philippines. Having the US military hardware, technology and troops present in the area, that close to China will definitely put them in check.
Then pursue the filing of resolution to the UN to settle once and for all our claim in Spratlys.
Having the US bases in our country will not cause harm. De-stabilization are being done by the communist groups that want to convert our country to a communist society.
For sure not all will be good, there will be some bad consequences but that's the reality of life, we do made choices and we take calculated risks even in our daily lives and so as our government.
We can tell the US our conditions for the return of US bases such as:
1. 60% of non-military support staff needed in the bases will be Filipinos with pre-defined salary package and benefits.
2. They will pay an annual rent / lease.
3. They will train Philippine armed forces on how to use the hardwares available.
4. They will help the Philippines build and develop our own equipments and machineries (not just giving us old, de-commissioned ones)
4. In an event of aggression, conflict. etc. that will require military mobilization, the US bases will allow Philippine armed forces use of their facilities in order to engage the aggressors.
5. In an event of Us troops misconduct the personnel will be tried in Philippine court.
In my opinion US will accept all "logical" demands from us with regards to the US bases because I have said in my several comments, their interest is security, not to invade or colonize the country. they want to be close to China and N. Korea because they are considered a threat by the US.
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