The Ties That Bind

ON TUESDAY, the US Senate unanimously passed a resolution”calling for increased defense and security cooperation with the Philippines.”
The US Senate said that “Washington is fully committed to honoring its mutual obligations with Manila.”
Senate Resolution 481, which was sponsored by Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Indiana), got a unanimous approval from the chamber, on the eve of PNoy’s 3-day official visit to Washington DC.
The passage of the resolution, which was introduced by Sen. Lugar to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the US-PH Mutual Defense Treaty, was welcomed by Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia.
“This is a very positive development that further underscores the importance the United States places on its alliance with the Philippines. The Filipino people greatly appreciate this gesture by our friends in the United States Senate,” said Cuisia.
According to the ambassador, the resolution “calls for increased cooperation and enhanced bilateral security ties between the two countries, including support for Philippine defense modernization, the rotational presence of US forces and increased humanitarian and disaster relief preparedness activities.”
“It also urged Washington to continue its efforts to assist Manila in the areas of maritime security, maritime domain awareness, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and related communications infrastructure to enable enhanced information sharing and overall military professionalism.”
Meanwhile, Defense Undersecretary for defense affairs, Honorio Azcueta said that American troops, warships and aircraft with prior clearance from the Philippine government will be allowed to use the former naval and air facilities in Subic, Zambales and in Clark Field in Pampanga.
He made the statement to the media after his meeting with Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Monday.
According to Azcueta, “a shift of US security focus toward the Asia-Pacific region is expected to increase with more military engagements between the two long-time allies,” reports Philstar.com.
Earlier, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta clarified that an increase in the deployment of the US’ naval presence in the region does not necessarily mean establishing permanent military bases in any country in the Asia-Pacific.
“That’s what we want… increase in exercises and interoperability,” said Azcueta. The former US naval base also has an airfield that can accommodate civilian and military planes.
It will be recalled that the two US bases (Subic and Clark) were shut down in 1992, after the Senate rejected their extended presence in the country.
However, Senator Panfilo Lacson cautions the Department of National Defense about the move.
Under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States, a clear provision states that American forces cannot have permanent nor semi-permanent basing privileges in the country. The VFA is only a temporary agreement, to be utilized only for military exercises. He said stationing the troops in Clark and Subic semi-permanently would be problematic.
Sen. Joker Arroyo agrees, saying that such a plan would yield “disastrous consequences for the country.”
According to Lacson, there is a need to review the provisions in the treaty, to ensure that recent developments will still be in accordance with the agreement, adding that “any actions that will not be in consonance with the VFA would need amendments.”
However, Senators Francis Escudero and Gregorio Honasan disagreed. Escudero said that for as long as the bases do not become permanent, he is fine with the arrangement.
But in terms of the possibility of the Philippine government striking a mutual defense treaty (MDT) with China, Lacson and Honasan are keeping an open mind. Lacson thinks that it would be beneficial for the country to forge a mutual defense treaty with another superpower.
And while these events are taking place, China has been diligently observing from the watchtower. China’s top newspapers have expressed their concerns about a possible widening rift between the US and China.
Reacting to Panetta’s assurance that the plan was not aimed to contain China, People’s Daily aired their views.
“Opinion across the Asia-Pacific generally does not believe that the United States’ strategy of returning to the Asia-Pacific is not aimed at China; it’s there plain for all to see. The United States verbally denies it is containing China’s rise, but while establishing a new security array across the Asia-Pacific, it has invariably made China its target. This strategy is driven with contradictions and undoubtedly will magnify the complexities of Asia-Pacific security arrangements, and could even create schisms.”
At this juncture, it might be a little late to play the diplomacy card, especially since China is still maintaining a number of vessels in the Panatag Shoal area, albeit withdrawing two maritime ships this week.
While this may be a bit of good news, the month-long maritime standoff still presents a glaring deficiency: The Philippines’ need to modernize its armed forces, most especially its naval and air units. And this is what the United States is willing to provide.
The tension between China and the Philippines is still palpable at this point, with still no solid resolve at hand. And what’s even more difficult is that this dilemma only gives us a partial view of things to come. (AJPress)
 
(www.asianjournal.com) (LA Weekend June 9-12, 2012 Sec A pg.12)