# How Large and Competent is the Philippines' Armed Forces? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 10, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-and-competent-is-the-philippines-armed-forces/994367 "2023-12-10T15:15:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 3
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2023, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-and-competent-is-the-philippines-armed-forces/994367/3 "2023-12-10T15:57:39Z")
Depend on what the OP means by > [@OldOlds](#): > > SO- anyone know whether they’d be able to effectively defend themselves against real Chinese aggression? Could any given e.g. Philippine Navy destroyer or frigate hold its own or defeat any given Chinese destroyer or frigate? Probably. A 4-ship formation of one versus the other picked at random? Probably. A few of the very best shiniest new Chinese ships versus an equivalent number & class of the rattiest of the Philippines? Almost certainly no. Recognizing that _if_ China was serious they would be the aggressor and so the selection of who met who in pitched combat where and when would not be a matter of random selection. The Chinese would be able to ensure the numbers and qualitative match-up all but guaranteed the opening battle would go well for them, absent truly atrocious luck or divine intervention. OTOH … Could the Phillippine military defeat an all-out existential attack from China without outside help? No. And neither could any other country except maybe, with extreme good fortune, the USA. And only after we first replace all the equipment and ammunition consumed in Ukraine, which is the work of the next 10-15 _years_. So which question is it? --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-and-competent-is-the-philippines-armed-forces/994367)._