AS OF the writing of this article, Independence Day is only a few days away, and that has prompted me to think about what that meant in 2023.
From these meditations come the question of sovereignty, which is crucial for any type of independence.
For me National Sovereignty means National Power, which I define as a combination of military, technological, economic, and industrial power plus (the most important part) national will. If a country does not have power, it can’t be independent because it cannot stand on its own.
When the Athenians during the Peloponnesian War demanded that the Melians surrender, the former did not bother with diplomacy. They had more power and therefore, could do what they will. “The strong do what they can, the weak suffer what they must.”
But what of allies?
A country can be sustained and protected by another country, yes, but the protectee is not sovereign, not independent. At best, it’s a protectorate and, at worst, a vassal. It has no agency and relevance on the global stage.
By this definition, very few countries are sovereign today. Many only feel Sovereign by virtue of Pax Americana, which is rapidly fraying.
But that feeling is just an illusion. Even international law is ultimately fiction, sustained only by the power of the West. They can easily stop existing once the guns start firing. Just ask the Ukrainians.
Sovereignty and independence also do not come cheap. They require investing in a large army and military infrastructure. They require wealth and technology, too. Countries that do not have the luxury of wealth must pay in blood and endure hardship. Case in point: Afghanistan, which drove out both the United Soviet Socialist Republic and the United States of American but only after a prolonged guerilla campaign.
So, in 2023, can we count the Philippines as sovereign? On the one hand, I have no doubt that Filipinos are prepared to fight for their country.
On the other hand, how many Filipinos would rather escape to another country if war or some other disaster breaks out? How many Filipinos are willing to stand and fight when running to another country is not only easier but also more lucrative?
The thing about Sovereignty is that it requires a willingness to fight for space, and in 2023, is the Philippines worth dying for when so many Filipinos are trying to go abroad?/PN
