Marcos’ toadying proved useless
DESPITE turning the Philippines into America’s main puppet in its conflict with China in the South China Sea, to the extent of making the country now a prime target of Chinese missiles in a nuclear or non-nuclear war — which may be sooner to break out because of Taiwan — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wasn’t invited to President Trump’s inauguration the other day as the 47th President of the United States.
At this period of his presidency, that’s a big deal, a big disappointment. Marcos demonstrated his tactlessness when he called the losing candidate, Kamala Harris, engaging her in lively conversation. What was the point of that?
His ambassador to the US, Jose Romualdez, tried to justify Marcos’ exclusion last month when he claimed that the US “traditionally” doesn’t invite heads of state, or their representatives, to presidential inaugurations.
But Trump invited, among others, China’s President Xi China’s Xi Jinping, who however declined and instead sent an envoy, Vice President Han Zheng, who was at the Capitol building’s rotunda where the ceremony was held but was low-key.
That was a clever move on Xi’s part. It signaled his view that while China respects the US as a superpower, it does not see it as the modern Roman empire that all heads of state must pay obeisance to.
Nothing
There was nothing really common among the heads of state and government, or former heads of state, who were invited: Argentina’s President Javier Milei; Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Melonia; Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban: Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa; El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele; former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, the far-right politician nicknamed the “Trump of the Tropics”; and former Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawieck.
Given this list, it certainly wouldn’t have been difficult to squeeze Marcos in, a move which would have boosted his prestige in a country where 74 percent of citizens — according to a 2024 Pew poll — favorably view the US, its former colonizer. (South Korea, Thailand and Israel like the US more, at 77 percent.)
Marcos attending the pomp of the Trump inauguration would have made Filipinos proud of him, especially during this crucial period when more and more Filipinos believe he cannot control his officials’ corruption and that he is an incompetent president.
As Trump saw Marcos as unimportant to be invited to his inauguration, his country will be considered inconsequential to fight China over the South China Sea disputes.
A speaker at Trump’s inauguration emphasized it was an event that emphasized that the peaceful turnover of the US presidency was at the heart of democracy. Indeed, the subtext of the inauguration was that the US has remained the Imperium Americana since the last century, with Trump the 47th US emperor, with its propaganda brainwashing most of the world that it is the champion of democracy on our planet.
Power
We were reminded of the real basis of America’s power toward the end of the ceremony when the US Naval Choir (or were they Marines in formal attire) sang as they led the participants out, the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” (“Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!), America’s song of patriotism that declares US soldiers going to war are led by the Almighty himself.
That points to the essence of the US as a state: It is the modern Roman empire, built on the wars it waged and the blood and sweat of the “barbarians,” weak in military power and technology in Europe and Africa.
As pointed out by former US President Jimmy Carter in 2019, the United States is “the most warlike nation in the history of the world” because it has only enjoyed 16 years of peace in its 240-odd-year history. Scholars estimate over 50 million civilians were killed in these wars.
The United States has waged war more than any country in the world. It has waged over 25 significant wars and military interventions in the 20th and 21st centuries, spanning both world wars, regional conflicts, and global military engagements, including both large-scale wars and smaller interventions in pursuit of political, economic, and security interests.
The Spanish-American War (1898) marked the beginning of US military interventions outside of the Western Hemisphere, as the US defeated Spain and gained control of territories like Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines. World War I (1917-1918) saw the United States joining the Allies in their fight against the Central Powers, which marked its first major involvement in European warfare.
Decisive
In World War II (1941-1945), the US played a decisive role in defeating the Axis powers, with battles fought across multiple continents, and its involvement was a defining moment in world history. Following World War II, the US became embroiled in the Korean War (1950-1953), supporting South Korea against North Korean and Chinese forces. The Vietnam War (1965-1975) represented a deepening of the Cold War conflict as the US fought to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. While the war ended in failure for the United States, it left lasting effects on US foreign policy and military strategy.
The Gulf War (1990-1991) saw the US-led coalition oust Iraqi forces from Kuwait, while the Bosnian War (1992-1995) and Kosovo War (1999) involved US intervention as part of NATO forces. In the 21st century, the US launched a so-called War on Terror after the 9/11 attacks, leading to the Afghanistan War (2001-2021) and the Iraq War (2003-2011). The US has continued military operations in the Middle East, including in Syria and Libya, purportedly as part of efforts to combat terrorism and stabilize the region but also as part of its overall goal of securing the Middle East for its oil resources.
These interventions have ranged from full-scale wars to smaller, more targeted military actions. The US has also been involved in numerous other military operations, often as part of peacekeeping, counterterrorism and humanitarian missions. These totaled 25 significant wars and military interventions in the 20th and 21st centuries, spanning both world wars, regional conflicts and global military engagements, including both large-scale wars and smaller interventions in pursuit of political, economic and security interests.
By comparison, China, the other current superpower in the world in the 20th and 21st centuries, has waged only 7 to 10 significant wars and conflicts, primarily involving its neighboring countries and regional interests. Unlike all of the US wars, three of the Chinese wars were to defend China’s homeland against imperialists and have largely involved regional tensions and border disputes.
The Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901) was an anti-imperialist uprising aimed at expelling foreign powers from China. This rebellion was followed by the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), which was part of the broader World War II and one of the most devastating wars in Chinese history. The war ended with China emerging as one of the victorious Allies, although at great cost to its population and infrastructure.
The Chinese Civil War (1927-1949) was between the Nationalist Kuomintang and the Communist Party of China, which led to the latter’s victory and establishment of the People’s Republic of China under Mao Zedong. The Korean War (1950-1953) saw China intervene on behalf of North Korea against US-led forces. The war resulted in heavy casualties but ended in a stalemate, leading to the division of Korea. China also fought the Sino-Indian War (1962) over a border dispute in the Himalayas and engaged in border conflicts with the Soviet Union in the Sino-Soviet border conflict of 1969. During the Vietnam War (1955-1975), China supported North Vietnam against the United States but did not engage directly in combat.
In the 21st century, China has experienced a few skirmishes, notably along its border with India in areas like the Doklam Plateau and Ladakh, which have seen periodic clashes. China’s military involvement in the Korean Peninsula and its strategic influence in the region shape its foreign policy today.
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Marcos’ toadying proved useless
Source: Breaking News PH
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