Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 18) — The Philippines should still send troops to study in China in the future, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Wednesday, as it would help in understanding the East Asian nation better.
In August, Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said he ordered the temporary stoppage of sending officers to Beijing after senators expressed alarm amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
“Sa ngayon, ‘wag muna kasi may tense situation. But in the future, kailangan din kasi kailangan din natin makakuha at makakalap ng knowledge kung ano ang bansa nila,” Teodoro told a forum.
[Translation: For now, let’s not send troops because of the tense situation. But in the future, it is necessary because we have to collect knowledge about their country.]
He also said Chinese experts must be given a chance to hold lectures in the country as part of academic freedom, explaining the Philippines can learn from them as long as it is in a controlled environment and no infiltration is happening.
At a Senate hearing on Aug. 7, Sen. Francis Tolentino told the Defense department that he noticed from nomination papers during Commission on Appointments hearings that a number of military officers graduated from a Chinese military academy.
The issue was raised again during Brawner’s appointment hearing. He said the scheme was temporarily stopped and that there are no Filipino cadets in China for advanced schooling, and vice versa.
Brawner said he has ordered the review of the student exchange program with Beijing, which has been covered by a memorandum of agreement on defense cooperation since 2004 to foster stronger military ties.
