Maybe, there is no need to think and analyze too much.

When I stood on the top of the cemetery park looking around afar, I realized that these questions are actually very easy to answer. I even got a clearer picture about the complicated strategic background of the Asia-Pacific region.

On Bataan Day, President Benigno Aquino III delivered a speech saying that "there is no friend greater than the US and Japan." He said that "time has proven that we can count on allies like them [the US and Japan], and I am confident they can stand by us should there be a threat again to our security and sovereignty."

Local media GMANews TV reported that Aquino did not mention China on that day.

However, early this year, the Philippines demanded an explanation from China as to why a Chinese naval patrol vessel "encountered" a research vessel from the Philippines in South China Sea.

The incident made the Philippine Coast Guard send three patrol vessels to the area in order to prevent such "encounters" happening again.

The development of the Philippine's economy today is inextricably linked to China. But over many other issues, like the South China Seas, the country also relies on the support from the US and Japan. Meanwhile, the US will definitely not give up support for a country it sacrificed so much to defend.

At the US cemetery in Manila, the war seems as recent as yesterday.

The author is a senior reporter with the People's Daily. He is now based in Bankok. dinggang@globaltimes.com.cn