Who’s A Bigger Threat To Filipinos: U.S. Or China?

As the two superpowers compete for dominance in the Pacific, Dena Takruri asks Filipinos how they feel being caught in the middle. Who is the bigger threat to the Philippines: the U.S. or China?

[johnramirez]

As a filipino, the biggest threat to me is just my fellow filipino lol

[joshu]

Every one of them has a point.
This issue is becoming so divisive to us Filipinos who have nothing to do with "their" war in the first place.
We have our own self determination, said the lady. And I agree.
To the superpowers, we are just a battlefield -- a Normandy, or a Gettysburg or a Stalingrad -- a tiny piece in the overall picture.
To China, we are just a buffer zone.
To America, we are an insurance of their Pacific power.
But to us, this is it... Our livelihood, our families, our lives, everything that matters to us... This is it.
...and they're threatening at each other above our heads as if we're insignificant.
...as if we're just pawns.

[Kikokikz_RPG]

I'm Filipino and I like the fact that you let them speak in their comfortable language. Thank you for doing this.

[johnzkeePW]

The thing is Philippines actually tried pivoting from US to China. Our former president was openly campaigning for a shift from US to China-Russia Alliance.
His administration also prioritized Belt and Road Initiative projects. China just got more bold in their incursion. They used this opportunity to survey possible resources and strategic locations. They put structures near our military bases. They even found possible locations for oil drilling operations. Also there's a market in China for rare, endangered corals. This causes them to dredge coral reefs, destroying the Aquatic biodiversity in the area. We found out the hard way that the more we listen to them, the more they will intrude. and they never considered peace and cooperation.
The Philippines is just too strategic of a location, it has raw materials as well. A mouth-watering treat for any burgeoning power.

The Spanish Empire knew this.
The British Empire knew this
The United States knew this.
The Japanese Empire knew this.
The Islamic State knew this
And now China.

[michelwan]

‘’ It may be dangerous to be American's enemy, but to be American's friend is fatal" ---Secretary of State USA，Henry Kissinger, Nov 1968

[originalgoldengoddess]

Oh my goodness we don't want to be dragged into anyone's war. We've had enough. We are peaceful people.

[Sebastian-xrko]

Asking ordinary citizens is close to being pointless, most of them don't understand what's really going on. Asking politicians isn't a complete different case as well, most of them lie. This is an odd point in history where the people who knew are held by their throats or voluntarily silence themselves; the people who don't know kept shooting breezes and are, unfortunately, often believed.

[AnarchyJesus]

3:55 "we get to speak english"

thats one of the most sad and pathetic thing i ever hear

[DKBZA]

I think they should change the question...
"Which is the country that will provoke the other the most...
Do they send warships to China near their territory more than 11 thousand kilometers away or is it China that sends warships more than 11 thousand kilometers away?

[piemaster]

This is a misleading media report, ask Mexicans if China or the US is more of a threat to them. The so-called geopolitics, of course, is that neighboring countries are more likely to create a sense of psychological deterrence. The correct comparison is to ask whether the threat of China attacking the Philippines because of the South China Sea dispute is greater, or whether the United States illegally intervenes in the Taiwan Strait dispute and uses the Philippine base to attack China, causing the Philippines to be attacked by China. The threat is greater.

[dannychu]

Many prominent Filipino companies and businesses were started by fellow Chinese Filipinos. They held on to their Chinese roots but are well assimilated to the Filipino culture as well. Its just about business with China. The Americans would care less avout the Filipinos if there werent a strategic military interest to be there.

[markvelous]

I'm not surprised that the interviewees from Olongapo have informed opinions. They're experiencing it first-hand.

[nmew]

Will US consult the Philippines government before starting a war with China using base in Philippines . If so, will US respect Philippines decision if Philippines govt say NO

[manniejavilla]

best question to ask filipino is if your given a chance to immigrate and be given a citizenship status which country will you choose china or the usa

[jasonswitzer]

Filipino-American here. I’m find the opinions of all the interviewees interesting. Yes, the U.S. colonized the Philippines, but it eventually game the Filipinos their independence. On another note, which I didn’t hear discussed… it’s not like the U.S. has never helped the Philippines militarily. My grandmother was in her 20’s during WWII and witnessed the hell enacted by the Japanese at that time. The U.S. did their best to help the Filipinos at that time. Obviously the U.S. was also fighting for its self interest at the time (they needed to systematically remove the Japanese from basically every island it captured at that time in order to win the war), but it’s not like the U.S. didn’t help the Philippines. A lot of U.S. aid paid for the reconstruction of the Philippines after that war. This of course is all history, but if we’re for going to talk about the bad things the U.S. did, we should also remember some of the good as well. Mabuhay!

[kurtmichael]

the girl saying US is a biggest treat is a half chinese lol

[didyoumissedmegobareatersk]

They choosed this
As from the long time the filipino people are okay with Colinizers Controlling them that's their fate since past timess and it is counting on..when they are picking America To host their Military base this close to china and not expect China to do anything ..Always remember When Giants Fights Ants alaways get crushed!

[xmen]

Filipinos have never shaken off their colonial mindset. Many of them still longed for the USA to rule over them. Leave them as such.

[Alex-igxr]

My family is from Hainan Province in China. My grand uncle married a Vietnamese. Many people in Hainan has relatives in Philippines.

[blessedstream]

The relationship between China and the Philippines was relatively good before, but since their current President took office, the times have suddenly changed.
China is a bully and wants to seize our territories that used to be the fishing grounds of our fishermen and especially when China found out that there is a lot of oil in the WPS, so their claims intensified and their behavior worsened.
Back in the day they didn't occupy the territories of other countries but when they got rich they started grabbing territory.