THERE are now "live wires" that can ignite anytime and produce a conflagration in the Indo-Pacific region that may be beyond the destruction wrought by World War 2. Indeed, it is quite ironic that despite the term "Pacific," the area is now the hotbed of geo-political tug-of-war. The US keeps on pressuring the Philippines not to buy affordable wheat, oil, natural gas, fertilizers, etc. from Russia while, at the same time, selling expensive arms and ammunition to Taiwan, in violation of the US "One China" policy. Naturally, this angers China. The US, it seems, will never stop antagonizing the dragon, China, hoping the latter will start a new war in the Indo-Pacific, most probably in Taiwan, similar to what the US did in poking the eye of the Russian bear in Ukraine. The US' action ultimately made the bear attack and wreak military havoc on Ukraine and economic havoc on the rest of the Western world — due mainly to the economic sanctions imposed by the US and its allies on Russia which backfired and is causing immense hardships for hundreds of millions of people, including Americans.
The Philippine Constitution says, "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." It is therefore mandated upon all presidents and government officials of the Philippines to balance its foreign policy so that it will be independent of any foreign influence.