THE Philippines has several student and professional exchange programs which, in normal times, works well in promoting scientific research, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people cooperation.
Other countries which value their active participation in maintaining peaceful relations in the community of nations also have their robust exchange study programs. Among these are the United States, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, France, Denmark, Finland and Germany.
Students and young professionals coming from poor countries, who participate in exchange programs for several years or even in short-term visiting programs in rich or developed economies, tend to praise or even stand in awe at the technological and other accomplishments more advanced nations have attained.
Praise, approval, assimilation and a desire to adopt new processes and thinking might logically follow, and so the exchange student later becomes detached from his native country and acculturate to the new way of life and mode of thinking that the host nation offers.
‘These moves are needed in the wake of recent events in the South China Sea which have serious geopolitical repercussions for the country.’
Several generations of Filipino economists, bankers, politicians, scientists and intellectuals trained in the US bear witness to this reality.
It is for this reason perhaps Sen. Francis Tolentino, a member of the Commission on Appointments (CA), asked AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. during his confirmation hearing about the exchange program of military cadets and officers with China is still ongoing.
Tolentino said, “Are our exchange programs with the People’s Republic of China still ongoing? Intelligence course, mechanized division courses, airborne courses, etc.? Second, do we still accept students coming from China?“
General Brawner explained that the exchange student program with China is “covered by a memorandum of agreement on defense cooperation since 2004” to foster stronger military ties. But at present, there are no military students studying in China and no Chinese students in the Philippines, Brawner replied.
The Armed Forces chief also revealed that he has ordered a temporary stop to sending of Filipino officers to China this year following the August 5 incident near the Ayungin Shoal where Philippine soldiers are stationed at the grounded Navy ship BRP Sierra Madre. The incident involved Chinese Coast Guard ships which subjected to dangerous maneuvers and water cannoning two Philippine military-chartered wooden supply boats and two Philippine Coast Guard ships escorting the resupply mission.
Brawner earlier this week agreed with the commander of the US Navy’s 7th Fleet that China’s aggressive behavior in the South China Sea should be challenged and checked.
At the confirmation hearing, Brawner also said he has ordered a review of the memorandum of agreement on defense cooperation with China.
These moves are needed in the wake of recent events in the South China Sea which have serious geopolitical repercussions for the country.
