In 1938, part of Czechoslovakia was handed to Hitler after he assured Neville Chamberlain, Britain’s prime minister, that his troops would not invade the rest of the country in exchange for the Sudetenland.
However, having taken control of the Sudetenland, Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939.
“If we say yes to something we believe is wrong now, what guarantee is there that the wrong will not be further exacerbated down the line?” the Philippine president said during a 90-minute interview with the American newspaper.
“At what point do you say, ‘Enough is enough?’ Well, the world has to say it. Remember that the Sudetenland was given in an attempt to appease Hitler to prevent World War II,” added Mr Aquino, who was elected in 2010.
Apparently referring to China, the president later said: “You may have the might but that does not necessarily make you right.”
On Wednesday, Manila sought to play down the president’s comments, claiming he had not intended to “offend” Beijing or “add fuel to the fire”.
“Aquino was not directly comparing China to Hitler, who was infamous for causing the deaths of millions of people,” Herminio Coloma, the presidential communications secretary, was quoted as saying by the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper.
“The President was merely answering a question with a historical fact,” Mr Coloma added.
Still, Mr Aquino’s comments reflect a growing nervousness and anger in parts of east and southeast Asia over what is seen as China’s increasing willingness to flex its rapidly growing military might.
China will pump around £90 billion into its armed forces this year as part of a major overhaul that would see its military spending eclipse the combined budgets of Britain, France and Germany, defence consultancy IHS Jane’s predicted this week.
Since the start of this year China and Japan have engaged in a new round of diplomatic sparring, with ambassadors from both countries borrowing from the work of J.K. Rowling to label their rival Asia’s “Voldemort”.
Tensions grew at January’s World Economic Forum in Davos when Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister, reportedly said that the two countries were now in a “similar situation” to Britain and Germany on the eve of World War I.
Despite enjoying strong economic ties - as the two European powers did in the early 20th century - a catastrophic breakdown in relations was possible, Mr Abe hinted.
However, having taken control of the Sudetenland, Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939.
“If we say yes to something we believe is wrong now, what guarantee is there that the wrong will not be further exacerbated down the line?” the Philippine president said during a 90-minute interview with the American newspaper.
“At what point do you say, ‘Enough is enough?’ Well, the world has to say it. Remember that the Sudetenland was given in an attempt to appease Hitler to prevent World War II,” added Mr Aquino, who was elected in 2010.
Apparently referring to China, the president later said: “You may have the might but that does not necessarily make you right.”
On Wednesday, Manila sought to play down the president’s comments, claiming he had not intended to “offend” Beijing or “add fuel to the fire”.
“Aquino was not directly comparing China to Hitler, who was infamous for causing the deaths of millions of people,” Herminio Coloma, the presidential communications secretary, was quoted as saying by the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper.
“The President was merely answering a question with a historical fact,” Mr Coloma added.
Still, Mr Aquino’s comments reflect a growing nervousness and anger in parts of east and southeast Asia over what is seen as China’s increasing willingness to flex its rapidly growing military might.
China will pump around £90 billion into its armed forces this year as part of a major overhaul that would see its military spending eclipse the combined budgets of Britain, France and Germany, defence consultancy IHS Jane’s predicted this week.
Since the start of this year China and Japan have engaged in a new round of diplomatic sparring, with ambassadors from both countries borrowing from the work of J.K. Rowling to label their rival Asia’s “Voldemort”.
Tensions grew at January’s World Economic Forum in Davos when Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister, reportedly said that the two countries were now in a “similar situation” to Britain and Germany on the eve of World War I.
Despite enjoying strong economic ties - as the two European powers did in the early 20th century - a catastrophic breakdown in relations was possible, Mr Abe hinted.
