By Robert B. Roque Jr.
So, it’s April 1 and they say this day is for fools. In no way though does it benefit the nation if our president, Bongbong Marcos, even for kicks, plays the role of the fool amid the tense geopolitical chess match between the United States and China.
Last week, while we were all in awe of Filipino teen tennis star Alex Eala’s historic run at the Miami Open, Marcos was busy reaffirming the Philippines’ military ties with U.S. Defense Secretary Peter Brian Hegseth.
And while we celebrate our fire-spitting contender in the WTA tour, our Armed Forces was stocking up on new firepower — most notably, the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and Javelin anti-tank missiles, courtesy of Uncle Sam. The HIMARS, if you recall, was the same weapon system that turned the tide for Ukraine against Russia. Now, the Philippines has a few in its arsenal, and Beijing is surely taking notes.
China, of course, has responded with its usually veiled warnings wrapped in diplomatic niceties. They refer to us as a “pawn” in its tiff with America, giving little or no respect to our military might or resolve.
The truth is, it wants the Philippines pliant, intimidated, and preferably silent while the Chinese Coast Guard continues to play bully in the West Philippine Sea.
The sight of HIMARS landing in the Philippines sends a clear message. This isn’t just about defense; it’s a strategic affirmation of the country’s picking Washington over Beijing.
For Marcos, whose political capital at home is being eaten away by his quarrel with the Dutertes and even more damaging critique from his own sister in the Senate, his fighting stance in the West Philippine Sea seems to be one of the very few popular moves he can take credit for.
In reality, this is a high-stakes gamble for the country. While bolstering our military might make sense, the question lingers: Will this newfound firepower deter China or provoke it?
And more importantly, will the Philippines maintain the foresight to navigate these tensions on its own terms? Because history is unkind to nations that let themselves be mere staging grounds for superpowers. If Marcos believes that a pile of American-supplied missiles gives the Philippines genuine leverage, he’s fooling no one but himself.
China is undeniably a threat when it violates Philippine sovereignty, disregards international law, and employs coercive tactics at sea. However, the country cannot afford to reduce its relationship with Beijing to an adversarial one, especially considering economic realities.
An independent foreign policy is not about tilting toward one power and snubbing the other — it is about striking a balance that serves Philippine interests first. Sometimes, playing Washington’s favorite ally does not guarantee long-term security. Marcos would do well to study how the US treats its so-called friends when their usefulness runs out.
At the end of the day, HIMARS won’t guard our fishermen. Javelins won’t stop China from swarming our reefs. What remains the Philippines’ strongest diplomatic weapon against China is the 2016 arbitral ruling which renders China’s claims illegal claims.
Let’s hope the law on our side is enough to fend off war.
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