It doesn't have to be a gun for gun policy. But Philippines has to modernize enough to at least be able to manage and supply logistics to its forward combat zones in case of a war.
Their air force and military aviation is very far behind even against local and regional threats let alone you lot.
Remember, even you were once only a fraction of US defence budget and yet you stood against them.
hypothetically, you can defeat any enemy anywhere as long as you spend enough.
In real world, you has always to deal with limited resources. So how much you spend on defenc depends how serious the threat is.
When we stood against USA, we were fighting for survial, we spent lot more than the figure you got.
Today, Philippine is only fighting for several islands which they just occupied in past several decades.
You somehow seem to be proud of provoking a conflict around the region. Conflict is never easy. While it is easier for us to discuss on the forum here, it is the soldier and his family that has to bear the brunt. If it comes down to an all out war, there will also be a small but significant damage to PLAN which means waste of precious lives on both sides.
I am not proud of any military conflict. On this case, I just stand on the same side with my homeland as much as any indian and philippine. Since their soldiers have beening playing this game for years--harassing our fish boats in the "their" area, then I have no problem that our soldiers do the same thing in "our" area. At least I didn't ask our soldiers to shoot any fish boat yet.
If it is something you are willing to pay off for, then there is another element; your FDI will seal up during the conflict no matter how small. Foreign investors will freeze everything in your country till the war is over which means that you will be on a no-earning-full-spending mode even if it is for a short time. Not to mention that your country will needlessly ratchet up fears all across eastern Asia among your immediate eastern neighbour and antagonize a lot of other countries in the region, even if you win a conflict with Philippines.
I don't think a conflict between Philippine and China would damage FDI in mainland China which is thousands kilometres away, unless you believe that Philippine's air force can throw the bomb to China or Philippine's navy can attack Chinese coastline.
Picture this; it is the same as US needling you all the time in your waters. How would you feel?
What when other countries' troops came into your territory, stayed there for long and then went back?
See, this is not strategy; this is needling into a conflict.
As for the first shot, Filipinos have already shot your fishermen in their waters.
Apologies are only words as is the evidence of US saying sorry after every drone strikes 2 years ago.
Seriously, no one wants a war. You are taking other countries for a needless ride.
In such a scenario, even US doesn't have to spread any propaganda. You are simply confirming what the US is only saying till now; sabre rattling through poking into others' territories.
Was there any PLAN ship harass any US fish boats in any disputed area? NO!
Was there any US fishman was shoot dead by PLAN or Chinese Maritime Police? NO!
But Philippine did. I understand they think they are doing this to defend their national interest. So I don't blame them.
But since you have done all these, then you should expect the other side will do the same to you.