COL. (RET.) RICHARD H. BLACK: "Philippines must not become a tool of the United States."

COL. (RET.) RICHARD H. BLACK: "Whatever you do, do not simply become a tool of the United States and be led into an armed conflict that ends up in disaster for the Filipino people."

*Col. (ret.) Richard H. Black is Former Head of the U.S. Army’s Criminal Law Division at the Pentagon; Former US State Senator, Virginia (his views are not necessarily those of DOD or its agencies)

WATCH THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE:
Emergency Press Conference: The Danger of Nuclear War Is Real, and Must Be Stopped
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOrmFJXyAVI

READ:
Schiller Institute Holds Explosive Press Conference at the National Press Club on the Danger of Nuclear War
https://schillerinstitute.com/blog/2024/06/13/schiller-institute-holds-explosive-press-conference-at-the-national-press-club-on-the-danger-of-nuclear-war/

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DENNIS SPEED (moderator):
... So we’ll go to the final question, which I mentioned is from Philippines, and it is from Maria Catherine Suba from Radio Mindanao Network.

CATHY CRUZ:
... A proxy war is being orchestrated in this part of the world, our country, the Philippines. Our country is actually being used by the U.S. in its intent of war against China, and according to geopolitical analysts, the Philippines will be the next Ukraine. The Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has allowed additional nine EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) sites, or more appropriately, nine U.S. military bases all over the country. The Armed Forces of the Philippines seem to be following orders from their U.S. counterpart. Drumbeats of war are being heard almost every day. Sinophobia is being propagated on mainstream media. Almost every week, there’s an incident of Chinese Coast Guard that water cannons a Philippine vessel at the South China Sea. Do you think a false flag operation can happen here as tensions are getting worse? What do you propose for this to stop? Thank you.

COL. (RET.) RICHARD H. BLACK
I must tell you, I spent a lot of time in the Philippines and came in off the carrier Iwo Jima, the Valley Forge, the Guadalcanal. And, and, and both, Scott would agree with me, Americans have a tremendous love for the Filipino people. I would say two of my very, very closest friends are from the Philippines. And we, we really wish very much that you were not in this posture.

But I think it’s very important for the Philippines to be clear-eyed in what’s going on and not to be led down the path by, by bellicose military people from the United States. You’re talking about small islands. I wish China were not engaged in that particular policy. I tend to be sympathetic towards them on many things, but, but less so on that one. But at the same time, I think you’ve got to make sort of a cold, clear-eyed assessment and say, look, it’s not worth a war with a great power for, for the Philippines to engage in combat over, over those small islands. And, but I do, I do agree that it is time to use diplomacy and to attempt to resolve the issue.

Whatever you do, do not simply become a tool of the United States and be led into an armed conflict that ends up in disaster for the Filipino people. Because if you do, you will break the heart of a whole lot of us who just dearly love the Philippines and, and the people of the islands.