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Promotion china and russia ties and relinquishment us ties

On 2016, the Philippines had started expanding its international connections to other
countries rather than the United States of America. The ties with the United States of America
started when the Spanish-American War ended in December 1898, Spain sold the entire
Philippine archipelago to the United States for $20 million. The Philippines had acquired a new
colonial ruler. The United States had acquired a colony the size of Arizona, located more than
4,000 miles away across the Pacific.1 Later on many treaties were made to strengthen our ties
like the U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty and the U.S.-Philippine Visiting Forces
Agreement Treaty. Moreover, The United States is among the Philippines top trading partners,
and it traditionally has been the Philippines largest foreign investor. U.S. goods and services
trade with the Philippines totaled $24 billion in 2012 Exports totaled $10.6 billion; Imports
totaled $13.3 billion. The U.S. goods and services trade deficit with the Philippines was $862
million in 2013. The Philippines is currently our 37th largest goods trading partner with $17.7
billion in total goods trade during 2013. Goods exports totaled $8.4 billion; Goods imports
totaled $9.3 billion. The U.S. goods trade deficit with the Philippines was $862 million in 2013.
Trade in services with the Philippines exports and imports totaled $6.2 billion in 2012 .Services
exports were $2.5 billion; Services imports were $3.7 billion. The U.S. services trade deficit with
the Philippines was $1.2 billion in 2012. The Philippines was the United States 34th largest
goods export market in 2013.2

During the term of the late President Cory Aquino, the Filipinos were divided in the retention of
the U.S. bases in the Philippines. The stand of the anti-U.S., was they were occupying Philippine
territory, also there were many injustices made by the americans against the Filipinos which were not
tried under our courts because the Philippines under the U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty, we
have no jurisdiction over the American troops here. On September 13, 1991, the Philippine Senate voted
and refused to ratify it. As a result, the last of the U.S. military personnel in the Philippines were
removed from the bases on November 24, 1992.3 Now in the present time, there are no present bases
in the Philippines. Also, the present administration now is leaning toward leaving the strong ties with
United States of America, and turning to Russia and China.

The Chinese economy has already overtaken the U.S. economy in terms of GDP, based on
another measure known as purchasing power parity (PPP), and is estimated to pull ahead of the U.S.
steadily in the following years. However, the difference between the economies in terms of nominal
GDP remains large with China's $15.6 trillion economy. Russias present economy is $1.26 trillion,
Russian growth potential is great, and as both countries are two of the worlds largest exporters of
natural resources and energy. However, in the future, the lack of economic diversification in Russia may

1
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/philippines/tl01.html
2
https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/southeast-asia-pacific/philippines
3
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutual_Defense_Treaty_(United_States%E2%80%93Philippines)
be likely to cause the country some difficulty with continued growth. 4 Combining Both China and Russia
GDP $17 trillion viz U.S. GDP of $15.24 trillion, on this alone the siding with the former gives better
chances of economic growth to the Philippines which is badly needed to end the 27.9 percent of Filipinos
who are living below the poverty line.

Moral Stand

From 1898 when the Americans bought the Philippines to the present time, it is clear that the Philippines
has a lot of debt and the 27.9 percent of Filipinos have no means to feed or to give safety themselves or
their children. Using Maslows Hierarchy of Needs, where physiological needs and safety are one of the
most fundamental needs of people. Changing ties to improve the economic growth and to expand trade
seems to be a reasonable step to reinvigorate the Philippines economy.

John 18:10-11 states Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's
servant, cutting off his right ear. Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not
drink the cup the Father has given me?"5 As a Christian country we are inclined in peace
rather than raging war. The U.S bases in the Philippines is a sign of violence, and not
peace, the Americans in the present, only gives to the Philippines military weapons and not
economic growth

Also Filipinos for long years have been under colonization of many countries, the
relinquishment of U.S ties would give greater independence to our country to decide to have
autonomy to choose to whom to have ties with.

Legal Stand
Section 4 article 2 of the Constitution states, the prime duty of the Government is to serve and
protect the people. The Government may call upon the people to defend the State and, in the
fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be required, under conditions provided by law, to render
personal, military or civil service.

Section 5 article 2 of the Constitution states, the maintenance of peace and order, the protection
of life, liberty, and property, and promotion of the general welfare are essential for the
enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy.

4
http://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/022415/worlds-top-10-economies.asp

5
http://biblehub.com/john/18-11.htm
Section 7 article 2 of the Constitution states, the State shall pursue an independent foreign
policy. In its relations with other states, the paramount consideration shall be national
sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest, and the right to self-determination.

The Constitution is the fundamental law of the land and everyone who is within the scope
of it must adhere to such. Given the above cited provisions, it is clear that trying a new
alternative which is the adherence to the Chinese and Russian ties rather than the U.S
ties which, has only chocked the Philippines, is the way to go. The Philippines has to
improve its economy by expanding trade with the Russians and the Chinese which are
proximally closer to the Philippines would mean less shipping expenses, lesser risks and
in the long run more trades. Moreover, if we keep on negotiating with the U.S section 7
article to of the constitution would be ineffective, the Philippines needs to pursue stronger
foreign relations with other countries rather than being rigid and sticking to U.S. Also to
note, the American government has a slight hold over the Philippines, thus changing ties
would be in line with the constitutional mandate to become and independent nation
without and other country applying undue influence to the Philippines.

In the case of Salonga v Smith G.R. No. 176051, the Supreme Court discussed the Subic rape
case. This shows how the Americans had abused the treaties to favor them. This
case viz Article 14 of the Civil Code which states Penal laws and those of public security and
safety shall be obligatory upon all who live or sojourn in the Philippine territory, subject to the principles
of public international law and to treaty stipulations, the U.S-PH VFA defies this because the acts of
smith are not within the jurisdiction of the Philippines such injustice shows how the Philippines is not
independent within its own territory.

Stand

We as a group believe that change would help the Philippines in the long run. By
variables alone having ties with Russia and China would drastically help our economy
and would hopefully lessen poverty.

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