Thomas: US remains firm in commitment to defense treaty, re-pivot to Asia

MANILA, Philippines – United States Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. on Wednesday said that amid countries’ territorial disputes over areas in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), the US would remain firm to its commitment under its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) ties with the Philippines, and its plan to reposition its military forces in the Asia Pacific region.

“Rising tensions is in no one’s interest but, as Secretary Hillary Clinton has stated, we are a Pacific nation, the United States, we stand by our Mutual Defense Treaty,” Thomas said.

Speaking at the at a Makati Business Club’s (MBC) general membership meeting on the topic The Significance of the Philippines – United States Alliance in a Volatile Pacific Region, Thomas said: “We have made a re-balance or re-pivot to ASIA on all sides and that will continue.”

Thomas, in his speech and in interviews with reporters at the sidelines of the meet, reiterated the United States’ position of having peaceful resolutions to the disputes in accordance with international law.

He added that the West Philippine Sea issue was something that the US worked out on a daily business with concerned Philippine government officials, but that they called on all nation states to “sit and decide on things at the negotiating table.”

“We don’t want to further escalate tensions; we want peaceful resolution of tensions but we want all countries to live up to their agreements and that is why we support the Code of Conduct between China and Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). We think this is a better way to resolve this,” Thomas said.

Tensions in the West Philippine Sea, internationally known as South China Sea, have been rising in the recent months, with countries’ contesting their claims over the area, and China deploying its ships around the Scarborough Shoal.

Apart from China, the Philippines, Brunei Malaysia and Vietnam, and Taiwan claim parts of the sea.

Manila has been pushing for diplomatic, legal and political solution to the dispute, which began when maritime authorities caught Chinese fishermen reportedly poaching in the disputed waters.

China claims sovereignty over nearly all of the West Philippine Sea, which is believed to sit atop vast amounts of oil and gas, is one of the region’s most important fishing grounds, and is home to shipping lanes that are vital to global trade.

Asked about the specifics of the US plan to rebuild its forces in Asia in relation to assistance to the Philippines, Thomas said that they were looking for a “balance” in the relationship, not only focusing on military plans but also beefing up efforts for humanitarian assistance, disaster mitigation efforts and economic investment.

He, however, said that in terms of equipment, they we’re bringing the second cutter, the Dallas, to the Philippines, in about six to eight months. He said that Filipino sailors were already training on manning the ship.

Thomas also said that he would be heading to Puerto Princesa, Palawan Thursday to donate the last of the six ships the US had been providing to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to help the agency capture smugglers.

He said that the White House would also be sending a team to the country next week to meet Filipino officials and engage sectors in efforts to combat human trafficking.

He said he was also pleased that members of other Asean were also stepping up to assist the Philippines militarily across a broad range especially in disaster and humanitarian assistance.

“We have poured last year $4 million to help cities train to prevent and mitigate flood. We’ll put more money in next year for disaster relief because clearly climate change has already been the ring of fire.  We have US AID and the defense department working on Philippine organizations on recommendations on these assistance,” he said.

He also noted how the US had more peace corps volunteers in the Philippines than any country in the world, and that there were over 200 peace corps volunteers in the country.

Thomas stressed how the Philippines should particularly work on its economic investments and initiatives and step up to not lag behind other ASEAN nations, saying that of the $150 billion investment in ASEAN, $100 billion was in Singapore.

“How do you attract that $100 billion that Singapore has to the Philippines that is not up to us, that is up to you to design,” Thomas said.

He noted how the Philippines ranked eight or ninth economically among ASEAN countries but that he believed that the Philippines could be number one.

Thomas said that they were working on getting American businessmen to look favorably on Southeast Asian nations, but that Southeast Asian nations-based business should open up and be more transparent economic societies.

Thomas said that with his experience in the Philippines, he believed that the country needed to work on transparency in court system and bureaucracy, speed of decision making, and predictability.

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Fat Reyes | INQURER.net | August 30, 2012 | Article Link

Locklear Arrives in Manila for Security Talks

MANILA, Philippines, July 15, 2012 – The senior U.S. commander in the Pacific region arrived here today to reaffirm the strength of the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty and to explore how the United States can support efforts to boost Philippine military capacity.

Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, arrives in the Philippines to meet with senior military officials in Manila, July 15, 2012. The United States and the Philippines share a Mutual Defense Treaty, and the two nations work closely together through bi-lateral and multi-lateral training to enhance interoperability. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Danny Hayes  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, paying his first visit here since taking command at U.S. Pacific Command in March, is slated to meet with President Benigno S. Aquino III, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief, Gen. Jessie Dellosa, for talks to center on maritime and regional security issues.

Locklear told American Forces Press Service during the flight here that he looks forward to building on the historic U.S.-Philippine bilateral defense relationship that marked its 60th anniversary last year.

The admiral recalled his days as a young Navy officer when the United States had a large presence at Subic Bay and U.S. military members worked closely with their Filipino counterparts. Although the U.S. footprint in the Philippines has changed significantly over the years, he said, the trust and collaboration established between the two nations hasn’t.

That foundation will be important, he said, as the United States helps the Filipino military transition from an army-centric, internally focused organization into one able to draw on more joint capabilities to address regional challenges.

“Now, as the security environment changes, many countries recognize that there has got to be more maritime domain awareness [and] more understanding of what is happening around them rather than [just] what is happening internally,” he said. “So what we are looking for is to try to provide [the Philippines] assistance that builds the interoperability of our defense forces over time.”

The United States isn’t alone in this endeavor, the admiral said, noting that other regional allies and partners are invested as well, recognizing that the broad challenges across the Asia-Pacific region demand strong multilateral cooperation.

Among those challenges are tense maritime disputes in the South China Sea. The Philippines, China, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam all claim portions of the contested waterways. The Philippines and China are currently locked in a naval standoff, with both claiming ownership of the contentious Scarborough Shoal. That dispute reached a new level just before Locklear’s arrival as a Chinese naval frigate ran aground about 70 miles off the Philippines’ western coast. The incident was resolved peacefully as the Chinese freed the stranded vessel earlier today.

Locklear, speaking with reporters in Australia before that latest development, said the United States doesn’t take sides in territorial disputes and encourages peaceful resolution through international legal processes. He warned, however, of excessive maritime claims that cause friction among neighbors, and if not resolved, could lead to “miscalculation” that threatens stability.

During his meetings with Filipino military and political leaders, Locklear said he’ll seek ways to expand the U.S.-Philippine military-to-military relationship in ways that promote regional stability and security.

“On the military side, a productive alliance requires us to be able to work together, to have connectivity with each other, to be able to share information, and to be able to bring our military systems together in a meaningful way across all aspects of military power -- whether it’s humanitarian assistance and disaster relief or a contingency or otherwise,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to giving the message to the Filipino military and to the leaders there that the United States is a very reliable ally,” he said. “We want the Filipinos to be a reliable ally to us as well.”

Locklear said he will reinforce the message of U.S. commitment that Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made during his visit here in June. 

Dempsey and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta had delivered the same message days before that visit when they met with Gazmin and Dellosa at the annual Shangri-La regional security summit in Singapore.

That discussion followed U.S.-Philippine “Two Plus Two” talks in Washington in April. Panetta, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Gazmin and Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario met for what Panetta called “very successful” sessions about expanding the alliance.

Locklear said he looks forward on building on this momentum in ways that deepen engagement between the two countries and identify ways they can work together to support common security goals.

“This is a reaffirmation that the Mutual Defense Treaty is still in place and still strong,” the admiral said of his visit here. “And it is an opportunity for us to find places and missions were we can partner and exercise together in a way that will increase our overall security cooperation and increase security in this critical part of the Asia-Pacific.”

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Donna Miles | American Forces Press Service | July 15, 2012 | Article Link

Clinton: US to help build Philippine Coast Watch Center

MANILA, Philippines - The United States will help build a new National Coast Watch Center in the Philippines amid Manila's ongoing dispute with Beijing over ownership of Scarborough Shoal, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday (early Saturday morning in Manila).

Clinton made the announcement in a lunch she hosted at the US Department of State's Benjamin Franklin Dining Room for Philippine President Benigno Aquino, who is in Washington, D.C. in an official state visit.

She mentioned the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines, adding that American military special forces have been working side by side with their Filipino counterparts.

"We are also working closely together to increase information and intelligence exchanges and coordination on maritime domain issues," she said. 

"And in this context, I'm pleased to announce today that the United States will support the construction, outfitting, and training of a new National Coast Watch Center in the Philippines," she added.

Clinton said that as allies, Washington and Manila consult on on important regional issues and cited the South China Sea issue. 

She said that while the US does not take a position on the competing territorial claims in the region, it has "a clear interest in the maintenance of peace and stability, freedom of navigation, respect for international law, and unimpeded lawful commerce in the South China Sea."

Clinton praised the Aquino government's initial steps to defuse tensions surrounding Scarborough shoal. 

"We encourage continued diplomatic dialogue and further efforts to lessen tension, to disengage, and to resolve the situation peacefully," she said. "The United States has been consistent in that we oppose the use of force or coercion by any claimant to advance its claims, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely."

She also urged China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to reach consensus on a code of conduct for the South China Sea.

Clinton, during her speech, also announced the signing of a new agreement with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

She said the agreement will spur joint US-Philippine efforts on science and technology.

"When our scientists share their ideas and their resources, not only do our two countries but the world reaps the benefits," she said. 

Clinton also said the US will also increase the number of its Peace Corps volunteers in the Philippines. 

"President Aquino first came to the United States over 30 years ago to seek asylum with his family as political turmoil ravaged his country. Today, I welcome him here to reaffirm our shared future based on mutual respect and interests, our common democratic values, new partnerships, and the bonds between our peoples," Clinton said.

Aquino, meanwhile, hailed the partnership between the two nations.

"We are clearly at a new juncture in our relations while we both remained grounded in our history and in the democratic principles and values we both hold, our success is also about what we can do together: to build a more stable region and to achieve an even more prosperous future for both our peoples," he said.

"That we are here now signifies our desire to further accelerate the achievement of these goals. I see a very rewarding future ahead of us as we worked on the different elements that comprise our partnership, such as our ties in defense and security, in our economies and amongst our peoples," Aquino added. 

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Jojo Malig | ABS-CBNnews.com | June 9, 2012 | Article Link

US Senate approves resolution honoring mutual defense obligations with Philippines

MANILA – On the eve of the three-day official working visit to Washington of President Benigno S. Aquino III, the United States Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution calling for increased defense and security cooperation with the Philippines.

The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. said Senate Resolution 481, sponsored by Senator Richard Lugar (Republican, Indiana) was approved unanimously by the chamber, adding that Washington was fully committed to honoring its mutual obligations with Manila.

The resolution, which was co-sponsored by Senators John Kerry (Democrat, Massachusetts); James Inhofe (Republican, Oklahoma); Jim Webb (Democrat, Virginia); Kelly Ayotte (Democrat, New Hampshire); Tad Cochran (Republican, Mississippi); and Daniel Inouye (Democrat, Hawaii), also called on Manila and Washington to continue high-level consultations.

In a statement released by his office, Lugar said:  “The United States–Philippines relationship represents shared sacrifice in defense of freedom. While historically we have worked well together on multiple fronts, it is necessary that the two countries discern new ways to expand trade, account for their mutual defense and promote stability throughout the region.”

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia Jr. welcomed the adoption of the resolution, which Senator Lugar introduced in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the United States.  The Treaty, which was signed on August 30, 1951, requires both nations to support each other if an external party attacked either.

“This is a very positive development that further underscores the importance the United States places on its alliance with the Philippines,” Cuisia said. “The Filipino people greatly appreciate this gesture by our friends in the United States Senate.”

Cuisia said 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.

The resolution mentioned the support the US government extended to the Philippines, particularly the recent turnover to the Philippine Navy of two decommissioned US Coast Guard cutters; the assistance provided by US forces in recent calamities in the country; and the conduct of more military exercises and other joint training activities with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The resolution also cited the April 30 meetings where Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta reaffirmed to Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin that Washington remains “fully committed to honoring mutual obligations with the Philippines and that the alliance continues to serve as a pillar of the Philippines-US relationship and a source of stability in the region.”

The resolution also underscored the shared interest of the two countries “in maintaining freedom of navigation, unimpeded lawful commerce and transit of people across the seas and subscribe to a rules-based approach in resolving competing claims in maritime areas through peaceful, collaborative, multilateral and diplomatic processes within the framework of international law.”

“The Senate confirms the alliance’s centrality and enduring value as one of the key pillars of peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and as a key tool in addressing the emerging security environment in the region,” the resolution read.

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Eric B. Apolonio | InterAksyon.com | June 8, 2012 | Article Link

Aquino secures US pledge for Philippine defense upgrade

WASHINGTON - The United States pledged Thursday to help the Philippines step up its defenses in the face of a rising China as it welcomes President Benigno Aquino III, seen by US officials as a promising partner.

President Barack Obama will meet Friday at the White House with Aquino, who has raised the profile of the Philippines in Washington through his pledges to tackle corruption and to boost the military relationship with the United States.

Top US military officer General Martin Dempsey, who met Aquino on Monday in Manila, said that he spoke about expanding cooperation with the former US colony beyond recent efforts focused on fighting Islamic insurgents.

The Philippines "has been inward-focused on its internal terrorism and insurgent issues for some time - for decades really - and so have a very limited capability to project power or to influence activities around it," said Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"We think that they need some of that, particularly in maritime security," Dempsey told reporters in Washington.

The United States has already been helping to upgrade the notoriously antiquated Philippine military and Aquino has agreed to let a greater number of US troops rotate - but not set up bases - in the archipelago.

The cooperation comes as the Philippines sees particularly tense relations with China, which has butted heads with a number of its neighbors in recent years over territorial disputes in strategic waters.

Friction escalated in April when Chinese and Philippine vessels approached the Scarborough Shoal, which lies near the main Philippine island of Luzon. Manila says the rock formation falls within its exclusive economic zone, but China claims the shoal along with nearly all of the South China Sea.

Dempsey said he spoke with Aquino about the need to "ensure freedom of navigation" in the South China Sea.

Dempsey said that he and Aquino did not discuss the disputes in themselves but "we certainly called on all claimants to resolve these issues through existing international fora and without coercion."

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Agence France-Presse/InterAksyon.Com | June 8,2012 | Article Link

Philippines seeks broader influence with Aquino-Obama meet

WASHINGTON D.C. - The Philippines seeks to broaden its influence here as it looks to the United States to expand military and economic assistance to the country when President Aquino calls on President Obama next week.

Philippine Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr. revealed the two leaders will hold an afternoon meeting at the White House that will involve the “full gamut” of US-Philippine relations. But he indicated regional security and trade issues are likely to dominate discussions.
President Aquino is scheduled to arrive at Andrews Air Base in Maryland Wednesday (June 6) evening but his first major events will begin the next day.

Cuisia said one highlight of his visit will be the launching of the US-Philippine Society that is jointly chaired by businessman Manny Pangilinan and former State department official and US ambassador to Manila John Negroponte.

Former US Ambassador John Maisto is president of the society.

Other countries have also formed similar groups in Washington DC, primarily to promote their specific interests in the vast US government bureaucracy.
Cuisia revealed the society has invited key US executives, lawmakers and business leaders to join the group.

According to the brochure, the US-Philippine Society aims to “strengthen educational, cultural, tourism and people-to-people ties, with emphasis on educational exchanges.”
But in this town, “education” is usually a euphemism for “lobbying” or trying to influence decision-makers in and outside the US government. The Philippines, for instance, is trying to push the SAVE Act, potentially the first trade agreement in nearly half a century, and greater access to surplus military equipment.

The Aquino-Obama summit is also expected to build on agreements forged during the series of top-level meetings including last month’s 2x2 conference of State Secretary Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta with their Filipino counterparts, and the US-Philippine Strategic Dialogue last January.

Those meetings reiterated US commitment to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), setting the groundwork for expanded military assistance for the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Cuisia challenged the view the MDT cannot be invoked if the Philippines is attacked in disputed isles like Scarborough Shoal or the Spratly Islands.

He was reacting to a May 15 editorial in the Manila Mail, the longest-running Fil-Am newspaper in the Metro DC region that argued they were not parts of the Philippines when the MDT was ratified 60 years ago and therefore excluded from the reciprocity guaranteed by the military pact.

Cuisia cited a January 1979 letter from then US State Secretary Cyrus Vance that said an attack didn’t have to occur only in Philippine metropolitan or island territories as long as it falls under the definition of “Pacific Area”. A subsequent letter from US Ambassador to the Philippines Thomas Hubbard 2 decades later expanded the definition of “Pacific Area” to the South China Sea.

These, along with other official declarations, bolster the Philippine’s belief that the US would come to its aid if attacked in Scarborough Shoal, the Spratlys or other parts of the South China Sea where the Philippines have legitimate territorial claims, the envoy indicated.

Cuisia told ABS-CBN News the White House meeting was important as the Philippines stakes its place in America’s strategic pivot to the Asia-Pacific region.
Although merely a working visit, the White House encounter has been over 2 years in the making.

This meeting also almost didn’t push through because of President Obama’s tight schedule as he campaigns for a 2nd term.

There are about 3.4 million Filipino Americans according to the 2010 Census, making them the 2nd biggest Asian American group in the US. Although traditionally conservative with a history of backing Republican candidates, over 58 percent of Fil-Ams went for Democratic Barack Obama in 2008.

Philippine officials here have tied a campaign to push absentee voter registration for the next polls back home to urging Fil-Ams to register and vote in the US November elections.
President Aquino does not have scheduled meetings with the Fil-Am community here but will instead meet with them in Los Angeles, California after the June 8 White House meeting, Cuisia said.

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Rodney Jaleco | ABS-CBN North America | May 31, 2012 | Article Link

US-Philippine alliance deepens amid China tensions

WASHINGTON — China's assertive behavior is breathing life into America's historically tumultuous relationship with the Philippines.

With Washington turning its attention more to the Asia-Pacific region, the U.S. and the Philippines last week held the first joint meeting of their top diplomats and defense chiefs. The U.S. increased military aid and resolved to help its ally on maritime security.

The steps came with the Philippines locked in a standoff with China over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea that has stoked passions on both sides. The U.S. is walking a delicate diplomatic line. It doesn't want the dispute to escalate, but it is showing where its strategic interests lie.

The relationship between the U.S. and its former colony thrived during the Cold War but ebbed after nationalist political forces prompted the closure of American military bases in 1992. As the U.S. seeks to build a stronger presence in Southeast Asia, a region it neglected during the past decade of war in Afghanistan and Iraq, the alliance is assuming growing importance.

For its part, the Philippines is looking to Washington and its allies to help equip and train the nation's bedraggled military, to put up a show of resistance to Chinese vessels that frequently wade into waters Manila considers to lie within its exclusive economic zone.

Ernest Bower, director of the Southeast Asia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said it is very important for the U.S. to solidify its ties with its traditional allies in the region.

"The relationship with the Philippines went south when the U.S. lost Subic Bay (naval base) and Clark (Air Base). The hangover is wearing off and interests are aligning again."

But for both sides, managing the new chapter in their alliance is something of a balancing act and carries its own risks.

Nationalist sentiments still make an increased American military presence in the Philippines a sensitive issue, and its law forbids a foreign base on its soil. Like other Southeast Asian nations, the Philippines does not want to alienate the region's economic powerhouse, with which it aims to have $60 billion in two-way trade by 2016.

And the U.S. also still needs to get along with China to prevent their strategic rivalry from spiraling into confrontation.

The 60-year-old mutual defense treaty between the U.S. and the Philippines has the potential to put Washington in hot water in standoffs like the one playing out at the Scarborough Shoal, where Philippine and Chinese vessels have been facing off since April 10. Manila appears adamant that the U.S. would be duty-bound to come to the Philippines' assistance should a conflict break out, but the U.S. has hedged on the issue.

The broader trend is that for the past two years the U.S. has declared its "national interest" in freedom of navigation and peaceful settlement of disputes in the busy South China Sea. It has expanded its military cooperation with the Philippines into maritime security after a decade of focusing on fighting al-Qaida-linked militants in the country's south. And the U.S. has increased its foreign military financing to the Philippines, which was slashed last year, to $30 million this year, double what was initially budgeted.

That, however, is little above its 2010 level, and scarcely enough to retool the decrepit Philippine fleet. To help in that effort, the U.S. last year supplied a 45-year-old Coast Guard cutter to the Philippines, now a flag ship in its navy, which headed briefly to the Scarborough Shoal at the start of the standoff. The U.S. plans to send a second cutter to its ally this fall and is also helping the Philippines develop its "Coast Watch" system — a network of about 20 radar stations tied to a central database in Luzon that is meant to help the island nation monitor its whole coastline.

Whether the intensified U.S. interest will help the Philippines build the "minimum credible defense" it aspires to have is another matter. 

President Benigno Aquino has increased the defense budget, but it remains meager compared with most of its Southeast Asian neighbors — let alone China's spending, which is outstripped only by America's. The Philippines says it is looking to the U.S. to provide more patrol boats and aircraft, and according to U.S. officials, is also seeking help from other allies such as South Korea, Japan and Australia.

Peter Chalk, a senior political analyst with Rand Corp. think tank, said the U.S. gifting of old hardware is a mixed blessing for the Philippines, as it is responsible for the upkeep and getting spare parts is difficult. It also risks undermining the larger goal of modernizing the Philippine military, which wants more up-to-date equipment and training — although there are doubts about the Philippines' ability to pay for it and maintain it.

"It's nice to get stuff you don't pay for, but that's not helping defense reform and modernization which the government wants," Chalk said.

In a sign of the possible pitfalls, the 76mm main gun on the first cutter, the Gregorio del Pilar, suffered a glitch that the Philippines has to repair.

More details of the deepened U.S.-Philippine security cooperation are likely to emerge when Aquino visits the White House this summer.

Last year, the U.S. announced deployments of forces in northern Australia and plans to dock Navy vessels in Singapore, as it rolls out its strategic pivot toward the Asia-Pacific. There are expectations that a planned relocation of troops from Japan could involve more troop rotations through the Philippines as well.

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SunStar.Com.Ph | May 12, 2012 | Article Link

DFA chief enumerates U.S. commitments to Philippines in case China attacks Filipino forces in Spratlys

MANILA, Philippines - Amid the the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) between the Philippines and China, Department of Foreign Affairs Albert F. del Rosario issued a statement enumerating the commitments made by the United States under its 61-year-old Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines in case the latter is attacked by Chinese forces.

Signed on August 30, 1951, the MDT contains eight articles on how the two countries will support each other if either of them would be attacked by an external party. 

Del Rosario stressed that, even in the absence of an actual armed attack against either the Philippines and the US, the MDT provides that the Philippines and the US will consult together from time to time regarding the implementation of the treaty and whenever in the opinion of either of them the territorial integrity, political independence or security of either of the parties is threatened by external armed attack in the Pacific.

1. The Philippines and the United States entered into a Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) on August 30, 1951, in Washington, D.C.

2. As stated in the MDT’s preamble, both the Philippines and the US desire to publicly declare, through the MDT, their sense of unity and common determination to defend themselves against external armed attack, so that no potential aggressor could be under the illusion that either of them stands alone in the Pacific Area. (Refer to the third paragraph of the MDT’s preamble.)

3. Article IV of the MDT states: “Each party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific area on either of the parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes.”

4. Article V of the MDT further provides that “an armed attack on either of the parties is deemed to include an armed attack on:
a. The metropolitan territory of either of the parties, or
b. On the island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific Ocean, and
c. Its armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific.”

5. On Jan. 6, 1979, US Secretary of State Cyrus Vance in his letter to Foreign Secretary Carlos P. Romulo, cited Article V of the MDT and stated that “… as provided in Article V, an attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific would not have to occur within the metropolitan territory of the Philippines or island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific in order to come within the definition of Pacific area in Article V” (underscoring supplied).

6. On May 24, 1999, US Ambassador to the Philippines Thomas C. Hubbard wrote a letter to Foreign Secretary Domingo L. Siazon affirming that “the US government stands by its statements in the Vance-Romulo letter of Jan. 6, 1979.” Moreover, in the same letter, Ambassador Hubbard cited US Defense Secretary William Cohen’s statement that “the US considers the South China Sea to be part of the Pacific Area” (underscoring supplied).

7. On June 23, 2011, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reaffirmed to Foreign Secretary Albert F. del Rosario during their meeting in Washington, D.C., that the US “will honor its treaty obligations to the Philippines.”

8. In her remarks to the media after the said meeting, Clinton declared: “The Philippines and the United States are longstanding allies, and we are committed to honoring our mutual obligation.”

9. During the question-and-answer session in the same media event, Clinton was asked by a correspondent from ABS-CBN this question: “What will America do if China attacks Filipino forces in the Spratly Islands?” Clinton’s reply was: “Well, as to your first question, the United States honors our Mutual Defense Treaty and our strategic alliance with the Philippines. I’m not going to discuss hypothetical events, but I want to underscore our commitment to the defense of the Philippines.” (Source: “Remarks with Philippines Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario After Their Meeting,” Washington, D.C., June 23, 2011)

10. On Nov. 16, 2011, Clinton and Del Rosario signed the Manila Declaration which states: “The Republic of the Philippines and the United States today reaffirm our shared obligations under the Mutual Defense Treaty.” (Source: “Manila Declaration on US-Philippine Alliance,” Nov. 16, 2011)11. On April 30, 2012, during the 2+2 meeting in Washington, D.C., Clinton reiterated that the US “reaffirms our commitment and obligations under the mutual defense treaty.” (Source: “Remarks during Press Availability,” State Department, Washington, D.C., April 30, 2012)

12.  As additional information, under the US Constitution, the US president as commander in chief may commit US armed forces into action overseas although the US president is obliged to notify the US Congress within 48 hours of such action, as provided for under the US War Powers Resolution of 1973. The same resolution requires that such commitment of US armed forces could not go beyond 60 days, with a further 30-day withdrawal period, without US congressional authorization. This means that a US congressional authorization is needed only if the engagement of US armed forces abroad would go beyond 60 days.

13. It is important to note that, even in the absence of an actual armed attack against either the Philippines and the US, Article III of the MDT provides that the Philippines and the US, “through their foreign ministers or their deputies, will consult together from time to time regarding the implementation of this treaty and whenever in the opinion of either of them the territorial integrity, political independence or security of either of the parties is threatened by external armed attack in the Pacific” (underscoring supplied).

14. The recently concluded 2+2 meeting, at the ministerial level, is a new mechanism for such high-level consultations.

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InterAksyon.Com | May 10, 2012 | Article Link

Philippine-US security ties to grow stronger – analyst

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The United States will not only become more involved in Asia-Pacific security, but will also deepen its security partnership with the Philippines, a US analyst said.

According to Ernest Bower, senior adviser and director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the April 30 “2+2” ministerial meeting between Manila and Washington signals a “new plateau” in bilateral relations consistent with emerging security realities in Asia.

In that meeting, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and their US counterparts, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, engaged in wide-ranging discussions on strategic bilateral relations.

Bower said the meeting came at a time when the United States is giving priority to strengthening and deepening ties with its treaty allies and expanding its partnership with other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

The fact that the meeting took place days after Filipino and American troops conducted Balikatan [shoulder-to-shoulder] joint military exercises, and amid the ongoing standoff between Philippine and Chinese maritime vessels in an area just 120 nautical miles from the Philippine coastline, “underlines some of the new realities for US engagement in Asia,” he added.

“Given the current standoff at the Scarborough [Panatag] Shoal and the steady rise in cooperation between Washington and Manila, the reaffirmation of the Manila Declaration was intended to send a strong signal of US support for the Philippines, and the Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] claimants in general, in their attempts not to be bullied by Beijing in the South China Sea [West Philippine Sea],” said the analyst in “Critical Questions”, a paper he wrote with CSIS Southeast Asia Program research assistant Gregory Poling.

Although Washington made it clear that it does not take sides on territorial disputes, Bower said that it had reassured its oldest Asian ally by committing to expand port visits, increasing troop rotations and joint trainings in the Philippines, and helping Manila achieve its desired “minimum credible defense capability.”

Following the “2+2” meeting, Washington agreed to triple its foreign military financing allocation (FMF) to the Philippines from $11.9 million last year to $30 million this year, he added.

According to the analyst, this increase marks an important, albeit quantitatively insignificant amount,
step toward rebalancing US military assistance to the Philippines, compared to other Asian countries.
In 2004, Manila accounted for 70 percent of FMF for East Asia compared to just 30 percent today.

The two countries have also agreed to pursue further military cooperation, Bower said.

“In addition to a second Hamilton-class cutter due to arrive later this month, talks moved forward on the transfer of a third cutter and a squadron of F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines,” he added.

According to Bower, Manila has become an increasingly important partner for Washington in the last several years, particularly in light of the Obama administration’s renewed interest in Asia and the two countries’ shared interest in the peaceful resolution of territorial disputes and preserving maritime security and freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines, he noted, has had several run-ins with China over disputed waters in the West Philippine Sea. The most high profile of these was the 2011 threat by a Chinese maritime surveillance vessel to ram a Forum Energy survey ship operating off the Philippine coast.

For nearly a month now, Philippine and Chinese vessels are engaged in a tense standoff at the Panatag Shoal, which the Philippines also calls Bajo de Masinloc, based on an old map dating back to the 1700.

Outmatched by China, Manila has looked to Washington and other countries to help pressure Beijing to respect international law in resolving the West Philippine Sea disputes.

Bower said that the Philippines was seeking clarification from the United States on obligations for mutual defense as reaffirmed by both countries at the end of their historic consultation.

“The official statement following the ‘2+2’ reaffirmed the two countries’ ‘shared obligations under the Mutual Defense Treaty and our mutual commitment to the peace and security of the region,’” he added.

“What precisely those obligations are and which areas they cover remain purposely ambiguous,” the analyst said.
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Jun Medina, Special Correspondent | The Manila Times | May 8, 2012 | Article Link

US triples military aid to Philippines in 2012

MANILA, Philippines - The United States will nearly triple its military funding for the Philippines this year, the Philippine foreign ministry said on Thursday, as tensions rise with China over disputed islands and Washington bolsters its alliance with Manila.

However, the Philippines expressed concern over what it said was a sharp decline in its share of U.S. foreign military financing (FMF) despite Manila's central role in the U.S.'s military "pivot" back to Asia.

Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario said the Philippines accounted for over 70 percent of total FMF allocation for East Asia in 2006, compared to 35 percent this year.

"We hope this is not indicative of the priority placed on the Philippines as a regional partner, as even non-treaty allies appear to be getting a bigger share of the FMF allocation," del Rosario said in a speech at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, according to a foreign ministry statement.

Del Rosario was in Washington for the first "two-plus-two" dialogue among their foreign and defence secretaries as they look at ways to deepen ties and help Manila build a "minimum credible defence posture".

Washington agreed to provide $30 million in FMF this year, up from an initial 2012 allocation of $15 million and from $11.9 million last year. In 2003, funding amounted to $50 million as Washington sent forces to help the Philippines battle al Qaeda-linked militants.

The Philippines is offering the United States greater access to its airfields and may open new areas for U.S. soldiers to use as it seeks stronger military ties with its ally and faces rising tensions with China in the maritime dispute.

The United States also agreed at the meeting to share "real-time" data on the South China Sea, suggesting it will give Manila more of its surveillance data on naval activity. The State Department also promised to explore "creative funding streams" to help the Philippine military.

Del Rosario, who previously served as Manila's ambassador to Washington, also urged the U.S. to lift conditions on a portion of FMF allocation for the Philippines.

Since 2008, the United States has withheld the release of about $3 million in military financing for the Philippines due to political killings and human rights abuses.

He said the current government of President Benigno Aquino has already taken significant steps to end these killings and has improved human rights conditions.

Since 2002, the Philippines has received nearly $500 million in military aid from the United States, according to the U.S. embassy in Manila. The amount does not include the transfer of 20 reconditioned helicopters, a Cyclone-class ship and a Hamilton-class cutter.

A second Hamilton-class cutter will be transferred later this month and the two sides are discussing the possibility of a third Hamilton-class ship and a squadron of second-hand F-16 fighters. 

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Manuel Mogato | Reuters | ABS-CBN News | May 4, 2012 | Article Link

Philippines asks US for radar, patrol boats and aircraft

The Philippines said Wednesday it has asked the United States to supply its armed forces with patrol boats and aircraft as well as radar systems amid an escalating territorial dispute with China.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said the hardware would help his country achieve a "minimum credible defense," a phrase he used in unprecedented talks with senior US officials in Washington earlier this week.

"We need to know what's going on around us. That's maritime domain awareness," del Rosario said in answer to a question following a speech at The Heritage Foundation think tank.

"And we also need to deter any additional incursions into our seas where we have sovereign rights," the chief Philippine diplomat said, referring to its dispute with China in the South China Sea.

"We are submitting a list of hardware that the US can help us out with. This would be in terms of patrol vessels, patrol aircraft, radar systems, coast watch stations," del Rosario said.

"We're looking for assistance from other international partners who have also been very forthcoming," he added.

In his speech, del Rosario said the Philippines was strengthening its partnerships with Japan, Australia, South Korea and others in areas like maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

While awaiting new hardware, he said it is important for the Philippines and its treaty ally the United States to continue to conduct military exercises "in a better way, in more locations, in a more frequent manner."

The two nations, which completed extensive war games earlier this month, are bound by a mutual defense treaty in which the United States has pledged to come to the aid of its weaker ally if it faces military aggression.

"The US needs a stronger ally in the region who will be able to take on a bigger share of guaranteeing the stability of that region," del Rosario said in his speech.

"It is therefore in the strategic interest of the US to invest in the development of the Philippines' defense and military capability," he said.

"For the Philippines, the tension in the West Philippines Sea are particularly challenging," he said.

The Philippines and China have been embroiled in a dispute over a shoal in the South China Sea, or West Philippines Sea, with both nations stationing vessels there for nearly three weeks to assert their sovereignty.

The Philippines says Scarborough Shoal is its territory because it falls well within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, as recognized by international law.

The Philippines has called for arbitration through the United Nations to end the dispute, but China has refused.

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Agence Free Presse/Yahoo News Online | May 3, 2012 | Article Link

ANALYSIS: Two decades after kicking out US bases, Philippines wants to see more of American military

MANILA - Twenty years after the Philippines voted to remove American bases, it now wants to give US troops more access to its ports and airfields.

Manila's moves to strengthen security ties with its former colonial master coincide with the US foreign policy "pivot" towards Asia to concentrate on, among other things, North Korea's nuclear ambitions and China's military buildup.

China is likely to be high on the agenda at top level US-Philippine security talks on Monday as Washington refocuses its foreign policy on Asia and Manila realises its limits in trying to solve territorial disputes with Beijing alone.

China has maritime spats with several countries in the South China Sea, believed to be rich in oil and gas and crossed by important shipping lanes, and its neighbours fear its growing naval reach in staking claims.

Those disputes are pushing the Philippines to seek closer cooperation with the United States, which in turn has prompted China to warn Washington against getting involved, denouncing last week's US-Philippine military drills as bringing the risk of armed conflict closer.

"I'm sure we need to be diplomatic, but I don't think we should tip-toe around the Chinese on this," said Walter Lohman, director of the Asian Studies Center with the conservative Washington-based Heritage Foundation think tank.

"...There is nothing new about the U.S. exercising with the Philippines. We shouldn't refrain because the Chinese don't like it. In fact, I expect the (Washington meeting) will come up with some agreement on increasing the frequency and variety of exercises, ship visits. Also expect agreement on hardware, joint use of Philippines' training facilities and bases."

The talks also coincide with a potential new source of tension between Washington and Bejing after blind activist Chen Guangcheng was reported late last week to have sought U.S. protection in the Chinese capital after an audacious escape from 19 months under house arrest.

"We enjoy a really close military-to-military relationship with the Philippines and I think certainly coming out of this two plus two, we'll be looking for ways to improve and enhance that relationship," said Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain John Kirby, referring to talks between the defence and foreign secretaries, the highest-level security talks yet between the two sides.

"But it is safe to say that ... our relationship with the Philippines is part and parcel of the larger shift to focus on the Asia-Pacific."

A Philippine general familiar with the discussions to be held in Washington said the United States had a list of airfields in the Philippines that it could use for routine deployment of tankers, fighters and transport planes.

"These are not new bases for the Americans, these are still our facilities," said the general who declined to be identified. "They are only asking us if we can share some of our idle space with them."

Kirby said the United States wanted to continue "a rotational and training" relationship. "We're certainly not looking ... for permanent basing there."

This is nevertheless a sensitive area for Philippine President Benigno Aquino, some of whose political advisers are uncomfortable with an expanding U.S. role.

The U.S. plan to use Philippine airports is not new. At the height of U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan in the mid-2000s, Manila allowed U.S. military planes to refuel at an airport in northernmost Batanes province, close to Taiwan.

"We don't want them back, they create noise when most of us are already asleep," Budget Secretary Florencio "Butch" Abad said of U.S. transport planes landing at night in Basco airport.

Abad is one of Aquino's closest political advisers. Another political adviser told Reuters Aquino would not allow a de facto basing arrangement.

"That's a violation of our constitution," he said.

Philippine foreign and defence officials, however, will use the Washington talks to try to get U.S. backing on its position in the South China Sea, invoking freedom of navigation.

"I think we would want all nations, including the U.S., to make a judgment as to what is happening there (in the South China Sea) and what the implications are to their own security," Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario has said.

A retired Philippine flag officer said Washington, which is shuffling and redeploying its forces around Asia, including in Japan and Australia, wanted to rebuild the "air bridge" between Northeast and Southeast Asia.

"They are trying to plug these holes when they left Clark in 1992," he said, referring to a former U.S. air base in the northern Philippines. "They need airfields more than ports because most of their tactical aircraft are based too far from potential hotspots in Southeast Asia."

Richard Jacobson, of Pacific Strategies and Assessments, cautioned both sides against playing the China card, saying he did not see naval standoffs in the South China Sea as dramatic enough to improve U.S.-Philippines relations.

"It appears more likely that any new strategic partnership will evolve gradually over time," Jacobson told Reuters.

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Manuel Mogato | Reuters/InterAksyon.Com | April 30, 2012 | Article Link

DFA breaks overall plan on Scarborough dispute in 3 tracks

MANILA, Philippines—Citing the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) comprehensive “overall plan” on promoting national security, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario has expressed confidence the Philippines could settle peacefully its Scarborough Shoal dispute with China, as well as other West Philippine Sea-, or South China Sea-related issues.

Del Rosario noted “the Chinese are now in violation of the (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Declaration on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea when they are preventing us from enforcing our laws in our Exclusive Economic Zone.”

Briefing reporters before he left for an official trip to the United States last weekend, the DFA head said they had “broken up (the) overall plan into diplomatic or political, legal and defense tracks.”

For the political track, he said the country would continue to push for the transformation of the West Philippine Sea into a Zone of Peace, Freedom, Friendship and Cooperation (ZOPFFC).

Del Rosario reiterated that under the ZOPFFC, Manila would observe a rules-based approach to all disputes in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

For the legal track, the DFA plans to continue coordinating with other concerned government agencies as it resorts to a dispute settlement mechanisms under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS.

“There are five of them and we’re assessing which one is best for us, one that will serve our purpose well,” he noted.

For the defense track, Del Rosario said the foreign office had committed to improve national defense by building a minimum credible defense posture to protect the country’s territorial sovereignty.

“We need this to complement our diplomatic capacity,” he emphasized.

Given the country’s lack of resources, he earlier said “it behooves us to proactively seek the assistance and cooperation of our various international partners (like the United States) to achieve this minimum credible defense posture, which is a fundamental attribute of any sovereign country.”

This year, the Philippines will be receiving about $144.66 million in defense assistance from the US, he disclosed.

Aside from the delivery of a second Hamilton-class Coast Guard cutter, “negotiations are likewise underway for more defense articles, including newer air assets for the Philippine Air Force. We also successfully secured funding in the amount of $53 million for radar systems to be used by the Coast Watch Council for enhanced maritime domain awareness,” he told a recent media forum.

According to Del Rosario, Manila is also updating its defense partnership with Washington under the two allies’ Mutual Defense Treaty, citing changes in the regional and global security environment.

He emphasized “our focal point for cooperation is to increase our capacity for territorial defense and maritime security.”

Last weekend, Del Rosario also said, “We’re in the process of being part of the drafting of the Code of Conduct (of parties in the South China Sea).”

He said, however, that “we ran on a little problem on that because the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Cambodia) appears to take that China should be invited early so that it could be part of selecting the major elements that could go to the COC in the part of the drafting committee.”

“So we’re saying that is in violation of the position that the centrality of Asean should be maintained. We think that the exercise of the major elements to be included in the COC, as well as the drafting of it should be internal among Asean (member-states). And once that’s done then, we can invite China,” asserted Del Rosario.

The West Philippine Sea remains a core national interest for the country, and “diplomatically, we are working to ensure that what is ours is ours,” he said, adding a rules-based approach would be the “only legitimate and viable way of addressing disputes in the West Philippine Sea.

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Jerry E. Esplanada | Philippine Daily Inquirer | April 29, 2012 | Article Link

Don't rely on US alone, push ASEAN, use global fora: Miriam's tack on standoff with China

MANILA,  Philippines – The Philippines should not expect too much from the ongoing 2 Plus 2 talks between Filipino and American officials in Washington and should push more aggressively its ASEAN counterparts into taking a common stand in facing China, while continuing to assert its rights in every possible international forum, Sen. Miriam Santiago said Sunday.

Santiago, a known expert on constitutional and international law, said in a radio interview that it seems more realistic to assume that China’s real intention in constantly expanding its presence and showing strength in the Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal and other areas in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone is not really to grab outright or claim these as part of its territory, but “to beat other nations,” particularly  those in the ASEAN, in exploiting the huge natural resources believed stored in those seas.

The problem, she said, is that “we small nations” don’t have the capability to exploit the natural wealth as quickly as China plans to.

While China repeatedly claims the whole South China Sea by invoking “history” and rejects Manila’s initiative to bring the Scarborough issue to grievance forums provided under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), China is also afraid of being treated like a pariah by the international community if it makes a naked grab for territory. This is why it combines a creeping occupation of islets and other assets of other countries with diplomatic moves and manifestations of goodwill in other areas, such as aid cooperation, she explained. 

China had started out by simply calling as “fishermen shelters” in 1995 the structures being built on Mischief Reef when Manila denounced this. Since then, per DFA and defense records, it had built structures that looked more like fortresses than plain shelters.

Don’t pin hopes on US alone, tap ASEAN, assert rights

The US, with which the Philippines has an over 60-year old Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), has in recent months been seen by some Philippine officials as a military crutch in case China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea escalates. In fact, Malacanang officials had said the current standoff over fishing rights at Panatag Shoal, off Zambales province, will very likely be part of the “2 Plus 2” talks between Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto del Rosario and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and their US counterparts: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense chief Leon Panetta.

However, “the US also owes China big time. We must never forget that,” Santiago told radio DZBB in an interview, and noted the vague response of US officials to questions in past weeks on what America will do if China’s aggression against the Philippines escalates.

While the US remains a strong ally, Santiago said Manila should keep reaching out---as President Aquino and DFA’s del Rosario have done---to its ASEAN co-members who stand to be most affected by the apparent design of China’s overarching need to have access to resources, especially marine life and energy. “We must keep telling them [ASEAN friends] today, China is doing this to us, tomorrow, it will be you.”

Besides Manila, it is only Vietnam so far that is known to have backed the initiative to have a common, strong stand among the 10 members of the regional bloc, in order to blunt Beijing’s design to  push with bilateral talks that weaken the leverage further of the smaller countries.

Besides the Philippines and Vietnam, two other ASEAN members (Malaysia and Brunei) claim in whole or in part the Spratly island chain. China and Taiwan are the two other claimants.

Meanwhile, Manila would do well to keep asserting its rights in other international forums, said Santiago, who has been chosen for the International Court of Justice, but is expected to assume her seat next year.

For a start, she said, the treaty-ratifying Senate could adopt a resolution affirming the Philippines’ sovereignty over Panatag Shoal, and ask the DFA to convey this to China. It is important to keep asserting one’s rights at every turn, she stressed.

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InterAksyon.com | April 29, 2012 | Article Link