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U.S., Philippines to sign 10-year defense agreement amid rising tensions U.S., Philippines to sign 10-year defense agreement amid rising tensions
(about 2 hours later)
KUALA LUMPUR — The United States and the Philippines will sign a new, 10-year defense agreement Monday, White House officials confirmed Sunday, allowing American armed forces expanded access to bases in the region at a time when military tensions between China and its neighbors are rising. KUALA LUMPUR
The announcement — the most concrete policy achievement to come out of President Obama’s week-long trip to Asia — is likely to anger Chinese officials, who have made it clear they oppose a heightened U.S. presence in the area. But it provides critical reassurance to several Asian countries embroiled in territorial disputes with China, especially in the South China Sea, and gives the U.S. greater flexibility to respond to both strategic threats and humanitarian disasters in the region. , Malaysia — The United States and the Philippines will sign a new, 10-year defense agreement Monday, White House officials confirmed Sunday, allowing American armed forces expanded access to bases in the region at a time when military tensions between China and its neighbors are rising.
“This is the most significant defense agreement that we have concluded with the Philippines in decades,” said Evan Medeiros, the National Security Council’s senior director for Asian affairs, adding that the U.S. wants “a constructive relationship with China” but also is determined to pursue policies based on its strategic objectives and those of its allies. “As those threats evolve, the nature of our alliances and partnerships will evolve.” The announcement — the most concrete policy achievement to come out of President Obama’s week-long trip to Asia — is likely to anger Chinese officials, who have made it clear they oppose a heightened U.S. presence in the area. But it provides critical reassurance to several Asian countries embroiled in territorial disputes with China, especially in the South China Sea, and gives the United States greater flexibility to respond to both strategic threats and humanitarian disasters in the region.
“This is the most significant defense agreement that we have concluded with the Philippines in decades,” said Evan Medeiros, the National Security Council’s senior director for Asian affairs, adding that the United States wants “a constructive relationship with China” but also is determined to pursue policies based on its strategic objectives and those of its allies. “As those threats evolve, the nature of our alliances and partnerships will evolve.”
At least four other neighboring countries — Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam — are also feuding with China over control of parts of the South China Sea. The resolution of these territorial claims have both security and economic implications, since the country controlling these areas can access fisheries and underwater oil and gas deposits beneath them.At least four other neighboring countries — Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam — are also feuding with China over control of parts of the South China Sea. The resolution of these territorial claims have both security and economic implications, since the country controlling these areas can access fisheries and underwater oil and gas deposits beneath them.
Rommel Banlaoi, executive director of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, wrote in an e-mail that the enhanced defense cooperation agreement will not only increase America’s presence in the region but will “justify an increase of U.S. military assistance to the Philippines as a major non-NATO ally.”Rommel Banlaoi, executive director of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, wrote in an e-mail that the enhanced defense cooperation agreement will not only increase America’s presence in the region but will “justify an increase of U.S. military assistance to the Philippines as a major non-NATO ally.”
“The Philippines can use this agreement as a leverage against China’s military and para-military presence in the Spratlys,” Banlaoi wrote.“The Philippines can use this agreement as a leverage against China’s military and para-military presence in the Spratlys,” Banlaoi wrote.
Administration officials said the pact, which has been under negotiation for eight months, does not yet specify what sort of forces and equipment the U.S. will rotate through the Philippines’s waters. Administration officials said the pact, which has been under negotiation for eight months, does not yet specify what sort of forces and equipment the United States will rotate through the Philippines’s waters.
The new agreement amounted to a historic reversal for the Philippines, which forced the U.S. to withdraw from the 60,000-acre Subic Bay naval base in 1992. That break terminated an American military presence dating back to when the U.S. wrested the Philippines from Spain in 1898. The new agreement amounted to a historic reversal for the Philippines, which forced the United States to withdraw from the 60,000-acre Subic Bay naval base in 1992. That break terminated an American military presence dating back to when the United States wrested the Philippines from Spain in 1898.
At the time, Filipino politicians celebrated the fact that they were ending their relationship with their longtime American patrons. Then-senator Agapito Aquino, the uncle of the country’s current president, called it “the dawn of our nation’s birth.”At the time, Filipino politicians celebrated the fact that they were ending their relationship with their longtime American patrons. Then-senator Agapito Aquino, the uncle of the country’s current president, called it “the dawn of our nation’s birth.”
The withdrawal also helped opened up the South China Sea to Chinese expansion, prompting Massachusetts Institute of Technology political science professor Taylor Fravel to note in an interview that the expulsion of U.S. forces “must be (the Philippines’) greatest geopolitical regret.”The withdrawal also helped opened up the South China Sea to Chinese expansion, prompting Massachusetts Institute of Technology political science professor Taylor Fravel to note in an interview that the expulsion of U.S. forces “must be (the Philippines’) greatest geopolitical regret.”
A decade ago China occupied Mischief Reef, a part of the Kalayaan Island Group the Philippines views as a key part of its territory; at this point China has claimed sovereignty over almost 85 percent of waters in the South China Sea. In response to the incident at Mischief Reef, the Philippine government negotiated a Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States that was adopted in 1999.A decade ago China occupied Mischief Reef, a part of the Kalayaan Island Group the Philippines views as a key part of its territory; at this point China has claimed sovereignty over almost 85 percent of waters in the South China Sea. In response to the incident at Mischief Reef, the Philippine government negotiated a Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States that was adopted in 1999.
And in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, where the U.S. armed forces played a critical role in the recovery effort, Filipinos feel even more warmly toward Americans. Alfred Romualdez, mayor of Tacloban, called it “a renewal of the bond especially for the next generation.” And in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, where U.S. armed forces played a critical role in the recovery effort, Filipinos feel even more warmly toward Americans. Alfred Romualdez, Tacloban’s mayor, called it “a renewal of the bond especially for the next generation.”
“Here were the Americans, who were the first ones to come and operated the airport,” he said, adding it allowed relief materials to be distributed more broadly into rural areas surrounding the city.“Here were the Americans, who were the first ones to come and operated the airport,” he said, adding it allowed relief materials to be distributed more broadly into rural areas surrounding the city.
The Philippine government has confronted China most directly on the question of the South China Sea, arguing before the Permanent Court of Arbitration that a contested shoal called Ayungin in the Philippines and Ren’ai Reef in China lies within its exclusive economic zone.The Philippine government has confronted China most directly on the question of the South China Sea, arguing before the Permanent Court of Arbitration that a contested shoal called Ayungin in the Philippines and Ren’ai Reef in China lies within its exclusive economic zone.