Philippines in talks over increased US presence
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A larger US military presence in the Philippines will help the country detect and deter territorial intrusions in the South China Sea but American troops will still be banned from getting involved in regular security operations, the Philippine defense chief said yesterday.
The last US military base in the Philippines was shut down in 1992.
US and Filipino officials began negotiations in Manila yesterday on a defense agreement that would allow larger numbers of US troops temporary access to Philippine military camps and bring in aircraft, ships and other security assets into the country.
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said a larger United States presence could lead to more joint military training and help the Philippines respond to major disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes.
“They’ll feed vital information to us and we’ll take action based on those information,” Gazmin said, adding that both sides would have to agree on the exact number of additional US troops and the military equipment they can temporarily bring to local camps.
“We’d want them near disaster-prone areas so they can help out if problems occur,” he said.
Asked if the Americans would be allowed to stay in Philippine camps near the disputed South China Sea to the country’s west, Gazmin said that would be considered.
Hundreds of American troops have already been stationed in the southern Philippines for counter-terrorism training since 2002 and also hold annual combat exercises with Filipino troops in dealing with insurgents, along with al-Qaida-linked militants.
But the Philippine military’s focus has increasingly turned to external issues as territorial spats involving China and Vietnam heated up in recent years in the potentially oil and gas-rich South China Sea.
Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said earlier this week that the Philippines was determined to use diplomacy to resolve disputes, but that the government would do everything in its power to protect its territory.
“Our region needs to know that we are steadfastly for peace,” del Rosario said. “But that we stand ready to tap every resource, to call on every alliance, to do what is necessary, to defend what is ours, to secure our nation and to keep our people safe.”
There were anti-US protests outside the military headquarters where the negotiations were being held, and in front of the US Embassy.
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