Gen. Victor Corpus: Hero of the Oppressed

GENERAL Victor Navarro Corpus passed away at the age of 79 last week, at sundown of April 3 to be exact, to join the genuine pantheon of humanity’s heroes who transcended convention, orthodoxies, and sham patriotism to serve his ideals, his nation, and humanity (other reports say he died on April 4– Editor).

Just two weeks before his passing, I picked up Gen. Vic, as I called him, from his condo building at the corner of EDSA and Boni Avenue in Mandaluyong.

We are sort of neighbors and can say quite close as comrades in the advocacy of brotherhood and cooperation with China for the sake peace and prosperity of the Philippines, Asia, and the world.

One of the last public events that Gen. Vic graced was a symposium our think tank, Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute Inc. (ACPSSII) conducted in cooperation with the South China Sea Probing Initiative (SCSPI) of China. Maritime Law expert Dr. Melissa Loja was also with us then. There, Gen. Vic made clear the point that the U.S. is going to wage a proxy war in Asia to contain China.

We are all seeing the unfolding of that proxy war using the Philippines right before our eyes today as BBM accepts vassalage to the “rules-based order” of the U.S., herding the country into                 building a conflict with China over the mythical “West Philippine Sea” and EEZ possessions, but that is another story.

Today we recall the very significant quotes from Gen. Vic’s first book, “America’s Dim Mak Points: Unrestricted Warfare in the 21st Century” published in 2009 and updated by an addendum written by Gen. Vic and daughter Cynthia T. Corpus entitled “US vs. China War Scenario” that Gen.Vic requested me to help distribute to those who are interested.

Below are crucial passages from the book that are still vital if we are to appreciate the global and Asian geopolitical situation today:

“If ever a major war erupts between superpower America and the weaker nations like China, Russia, or Iran, we can expect the weaker ones to resort to unrestricted warfare.

“It will not be confined to a mere shooting war. It will involve combat on land, sea, air, in outer space, cyberspace and even into the microbial realm. It will encompass attacks on a nation’s electric grids, computer networks, strategic resources, oil supply routes, logistic, sea lanes, national currency, trade, banking and finance, stock exchange, basic services, and the nation’s social fabric. It will also include combat in the realms of media, the environment, diplomacy, culture, and the struggle for alliances.

“Unrestricted warfare was conceptualized by two senior colonels of the People’s Liberation Army of China, Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui, in their famous book, “Unrestricted Warfare,” published in 1999.

“Qiao’s famous quotes on the subject is that ‘the first rule of unrestricted warfare is that there are no rules, with nothing forbidden.’ Usually, rules are laid down by the strong to dominate the weak. To level the playing field, the weak has to break the rules, avoid the enemy’s strength, and hit the strong side at its most vulnerable points.

“Another Chinese theorist on modern warfare, Chang Mengxiong, compared China’s form of fighting to ‘a Chinese boxer with a keen knowledge of vital body points who can bring an opponent to his knees with a minimum of movements.’

“It is like key acupuncture points in ancient Chinese medicine. Puncture one vital point and the whole anatomy is affected. Acupuncture is normally used for healing. But some acupuncture points called Dim Mak, when hit in a specific way at certain times of the day can cause paralysis or instant death.

“If America ever wages war against China, say over Taiwan, then it should be prepared for the following Dim Mak points in its (national) anatomy to be the forces of attacks. Each one of these vital points can bring America to its knees with a minimum of effort:

Vulnerability to Electro-Information Attack

Dependency on Foreign Oil

US Dollar Vulnerability

Diplomatic Isolation

Geographical Military Handicap

Asymmetric Vulnerability

Satellite-based Military Command and Control

Aircraft Carrier Battle Groups”

A decade-and-a-half has passed since the book was first published and China has made great strides in boosting its economy and expanding its military and naval capabilities to more than match the United States: four aircraft carriers, superior missile and rocket force, hypersonic missiles, satellite busters, drone swarms in the air and submarine, ad nauseum.

Gen. Vic advises the U.S. that in order to save itself from inevitable defeat it must,

“Reverse the policy of unilateralism in US foreign policy. Unilateralism has alienated the US from its major allies. It causes resentment, even hate, of the U.S in many parts of the world. Unilateralism fosters unbridled arrogance of power that turns off friends and foes alike.

“Stop interfering in the internal affairs of other countries. Respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries. This will involve refraining from subversion of other countries in the guise of promoting democracy and human rights, such as instigation of ‘color’ revolutions and giving clandestine support to separatist movements in other countries.

“Lead the world in the search for cures of drug resistant diseases and cancer, and take the lead in the global struggle against poverty. Influence the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to lead in writing off foreign debts of poor and developing nations.”