The Philippines  stands to lose the West Philippine Sea if President Rodrigo Duterte would continue to assert that the country does not need the military aid of the United States.

“The President said over and over again, ‘We cannot go to war against China because we will be massacred. Our soldiers will be massacred, we dont stand a chance.’ He has said that. And of course, we know that’s why we need allies,” said retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio  during a forum in Ateneo De Manila University on Thursday.

“You ask any military analyst or strategist whether we can war on our won against China, no way because China is a nuclear state. Without allies we will lose the West Philippine Sea. That’s for sure,” Carpio also said.

After sending a notice of termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US, President Rodrigo Duterte said the Armed  Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has  assured that the Philippines can develop its own defense capabilities even without the help of the US.

“Kasi ‘pag hindi natin kaya, we have no business being a Republic. You might as well choose. We can be a territory of the Americans or we can be a province of China. Kung hindi natin kaya, ganun lang,” Duterte said.

On the other hand, Carpio pointed out that even developed countries such as Japan, South Korea, Australia and other member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are maintaining their military ties with the US.

“We have to use allies,” Carpio said.

Earlier this month, the Philippine government sent the notice of termination of the two-decade old agreement  which governs the conduct of visiting US personnel holding military exercises in the Philippines. It shall take within 180 days.

According to Article 9 of the VFA, the agreement “shall remain in force until the expiration of 180 days from the date on which either party gives the other party notice in writing that it desires to terminate the agreement.”

Carpio reiterated that the end of the VFA will pave the way for China’s construction of air and naval bases in the Scarborough Shoal.

Carpio said that a treaty is a law and terminating the VFA would need Senate concurrence.

The Senate plans to seek clarification from the Supreme Court on its role in the abrogation of the VFA./Stacy Ang