How powerful is the Philippines?
Since 2012, the Philippines and China have gone head to head over the ownerships of Spartly Islands in South China Sea. This islands is important stop over points along nautical shipping lines, and both countries have bolstered their navies in preparation for a fight over these territories. Recently, a Chines Coast Guard vessel even reportedly used water cannon on a Philippine fishing boat for operating in disputed region
This got us thinking, could Philippines actually defend
itself against china? How powerful is the Philippines?
Well, the Philippines has geographically powerful position,
both military and economically. Since nation is essentially collection of small
and large Islands, it has no shared land boarders. This give defensive edge
against any possible attracts. Also, the Philippines happen to be almost exactly
at the center of the trade routes between many other large nations namely
China, Japan, and Australia. In addition to profitable industry, the
Philippines has strong agricultural sector and they are leading producer of
coconuts, rice and pineapples. They also have a growing retail and customer service
industry. Companies in the telecommunications, hospitality and food service are
growing fast. Although Philippines isn’t nearly as wealth as some of its neighbors,
the country is known for its rapid economic growth and has been called and up
and coming “Asian Tiger”. The Philippines could soon rival the bustling economies
of Singapore and Malaysia.
The Philippines has huge population with more than 100
million citizens. That as if three times the population of Canada. The nation
capital of Manila alone, has almost 13 million resident, making it one of megacities of the planet.
The Philippines has significant military reportedly 220
thousand active frontline personnel-but their equipment remains outdated. Globally,
the country’s military rank 40th in the world. Compared to China
with, more than 2 million active soldiers and the second highest rate of
expenditures of defense in the world, the Philippine army appears lacking. However,
the Philippines has a secret weapon: The United States. The two countries have
had friendly diplomatic and economic relations since World War 2, and in 2014, both
sign an “Enhance Defense Cooperation Agreement” If China chooses to attack the
Philippines over the Spartly Islands, the US will step in. Therefore, by
association, the Philippines is moderately powerful nation, and, it has a
promising economic future.
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