Russia rebukes US official for warning PHL vs acquiring military equipment from Moscow

(Eagle News)–The Russian embassy in Manila slammed a US official for warning the Philippines against buying military equipment from them.

“Mr. Schriver’s interview may point to acute attack of colonial syndrome. It is another testament that this sickness as well as propensity to lecture other countries and give unsolicited advice is still prevalent in Washington,” the embassy said in a statement posted on its Facebook account.

The embassy was referring to US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Randall Schriver, who had told the Philippines to “think very carefully” about buying  submarines from Russia.

He said the US would be a “better partner.”

According to the embassy, although there was the issue of “interoperability” of the military equipment, its “extent is exaggerated.”

“Experience of other countries shows that this can be overcome,” it said.

The embassy said the issue of “mental interoperability” should be “of grave concern.”

It said an example of this was Schriver’s “mentoring.”

“The mental interoperability could only be achieved by letting go of outdated  clichés, prejudices and phobias,” it said.

The embassy also took offense at Schriver’s use of the term “regime” to refer to the Russian government, saying  such a term was used “for those rulers who swept into power through coup d’état or other unlawful means.”

The embassy also shot back at Schriver’s “laundry list” comment, saying  the “preposterous claims” do not hold water.

“We would like Mr. Schriver to be more specific and also give us American laundry list, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya which have not turned out to be beacons of democracy but became a breeding ground for terrorism,” it said.