Manila must be able to counter China

The still-unnamed ship completed all assigned tasks before returning to its construction yard in the northern port of Dalian, state media reported.
China’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, was bought as a mostly empty hull from Ukraine and was commissioned in 2012 along with its flight wing of Chinese J-15 fighter jets.
What is interesting here is that the carriers are based on the former Soviet Union’s Kuznetsov-class design, with a ski-jump-style deck for take-off and a conventional oil-fuelled steam turbine power plant.
This unveiling of power capability by China is seen as striving to overtake the United States as the dominant naval power in Asia. It already boasts the world’s largest navy in number of vessels.
The ever-unchanging narrative of China is that its aircraft carriers are needed to protect its coastline and trade routes, but they are also seen as backing up Beijing’s claims to self-governing Taiwan and virtually the entire South China Sea. Ironically, China’s narrative is widely accepted by its allied states.
China's capability might be alarming. I believe the Philippines is always prepared, whatever the stake will be – cooperation, coordination or anything in between.
I do not see this as a threat, but in case they go beyond the glib language of security, we need to defend what we needs to be defended for our people.
Jumel G Estranero
Phlippines