‘America First’
PRESIDENT Donald Trump in his statements not only during his presidential campaign, but even after his election as president of the USA, has repeated the same “America First” objective. As expected, in the current ongoing AsiaPacific Economic Conference (APEC) meetings, he has restated the same “slogan objective.” This time, however, he has recognized that all countries are entitled to put their own selfish interests ahead of everyone. I do not find anything objectionable to this goal. In fact time and again, I have repeatedly written that the foreign policy of every state is towards succeeding in and attaining its “best selfish interests.”
Having said the basic and primary objective of any country, other issues like trade can come into play. Trump has said that he wants trade relations that should be “free and fair” – and he would not allow any other country to frequently take an unfair advantage against his own. In so far as trade matters are concerned, especially in countries that have still a growing economy and have not yet reached a fully developed status in the economic and social fields, those nations would certainly support a free and fair economic relation with its trading partners. Unfortunately in the real world of International relations, the countries that are the strongest nations of the world are often the nations that have used their power to the disadvantage of the weaker countries.
The above situation can be easily seen in the South China Sea-West Philippine Sea-Spratlys. The reality in that area is that the People’s Republic of China (PROC) has taken over the islets and rocky coral formations and has developed islands, spending billions in order to develop them into military strongpoints and bases for its People’s Liberation Army (PLA). However in order to smoothen relations for the other countries, especially the ones most affected, the PROC has offered large financial assistance (loans) to develop several key infrastructures in that region. Our country is one such, that is considering building railroads in Mindanao and other infrastructures all over.
The Philippines can survive the problems that we presently face with forward-looking foreign policy without necessarily deliberately provoking the “red panda bear.” We could strengthen our close relations with countries that have similar ideological democratic principles as ours. On our edge of the Pacific Ocean we can see Japan, South Korea. In the south, Australia and New Zealand. It would be worth developing closer relations with Indonesia not only because of our people’s historical relations with them, but also because of strategic reasons. In short, we must know and decide for ourselves who are our real friends – in the long term and short term; and how best to survive in our part of the world where an emerging country, the PROC, is trying its new-found strength to assert itself in this part of the Pacific, thus creating tensions with the USA, the historical power in this part of Asia.
I certainly have some ideas on how best to achieve our paramount selfish interests. More importantly, what are the priorities, plus how to best defend those interests. As I have written before, a classic study of history and the policies of the English and the United Kingdom would be an excellent model of how to survive in today’s present evolving world, with its emerging powerful countries that want to some extent revive or even surpass their past historical greatness. Our country’s leaders should be able to guide us to attain our best primary objectives.