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U.S. Negotiates Expanded Military Role in Philippines
U.S. Seeks Expanded Role For Military in Philippines
(about 11 hours later)
MANILA — The United States is negotiating an agreement to allow it to position military equipment and rotating personnel in the Philippines while avoiding the controversial issue of re-establishing American bases in the country, according to officials from both countries.
MANILA — The United States is negotiating an agreement to allow it to position military equipment and rotate more personnel into the Philippines while avoiding the contentious issue of re-establishing American bases in the country, according to officials from both countries.
The negotiations for increased military access by the United States take place against the backdrop of simmering tensions between the Philippines and China over areas in the South China Sea claimed by both countries.
The negotiations for increased military access come amid simmering tensions between the Philippines and China over areas in the South China Sea claimed by both countries and moves by the United States to ensure it retains influence in the region even as China’s grows.
The Philippines, which has a small navy and air force, is relying on support from the United States to modernize its military and upgrade its capabilities. Part of this military relationship has involved regular short-term visits by American military forces for joint training, humanitarian work and disaster response.
The Philippines, which has a small navy and air force, has been relying on support from the United States, a close ally, to modernize its military and upgrade its abilities. Part of this relationship has involved regular short-term visits by American military forces for joint training, humanitarian work and disaster response.
The arrangement under negotiation now would allow American forces to visit for longer periods of time and be stationed on Philippine military bases. It would also allow American military equipment to be based in the Philippines, officials said.
The arrangement under negotiation now would allow American forces to visit for longer periods and be stationed on Philippine military bases.
“An access agreement would increase opportunities for joint military training and exercises and allow the pre-positioning of equipment and supplies enabling us to respond quickly to disasters,” said Elizabeth Mesa, a spokeswoman for the American Embassy in Manila.
On Thursday, Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, the head of the Pacific Command, said the United States was looking for access that would enable it to help the Philippines in its defense as well as to aid in responding to disasters. The admiral, who was responding to questions at a news conference, reiterated stated American policy that it would not reopen bases in the Philippines.
“The United States is not seeking to create or reopen any military bases in the Philippines,” she added.
The United States maintained large military bases in the Philippines for nearly a century to counter imperial Japan’s expansion before World War II and, later, to ensure a regional presence in the cold war. But in 1992, the last American base in the country closed after street protests against what some saw as a painful reminder of decades of American rule, and a decision by the Philippine Senate to discontinue the American military presence.
The United States maintained large military bases in the Philippines for nearly a century as it countered threats from Japan before World War II and concerns about the spread of Communism during the cold war. In 1992, the last American base in the country was closed after divisive street protests and a decision by the country’s Senate to discontinue the American military presence in the country. The presence of United States military forces in the Philippines remains controversial to this day.
But the presence of United States military forces in the Philippines remains controversial.
Raul Hernandez, a spokesman for the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, reiterated that no new American bases were planned and said that any new agreement would be in line with the Philippine Constitution. He said that the discussions with the United States involve the use of “rotational” forces.
Raul Hernandez, a spokesman for the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, reiterated that no new American bases were planned and said any new agreement would be in line with the Philippine Constitution. He said the discussions with the United States involved the use of “rotational” forces.
“We continue to talk and refine with the United States the modalities and parameters for increased rotational presence of United States forces in the Philippines,” he said.
“We continue to talk and refine with the United States the modalities and parameters for increased rotational presence of United States forces in the Philippines,” he said.
One model of the use of rotational forces in the Philippines is the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines, a contingent of about 500 members of the United States military who come from various branches of service.
James Hardy, Asia-Pacific editor for IHS Jane’s Defense Weekly, said a likely model for the use of such forces in the Philippines was the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines, a contingent of about 500 members of the United States military who come from various branches.
The task force, which focuses on counterterrorism, has been based within a Philippine military base in the southern Philippines since 2002. Though the facility is officially considered temporary, it has many of the trappings of a traditional United States military base, including barracks, dining facilities and a command center.
The task force, which focuses on counterterrorism, has been based on a Philippine military base in the southern Philippines since 2002 in a facility that is officially considered temporary.
The United States has also been active in the former United States naval base in Subic Bay. The Department of National Defense of the Philippines last year reserved the airport at Cubi Point, in Subic, for future military use.
The United States has also used its former naval base in Subic Bay for ship visits.
Subic Bay is currently a special economic zone catering to private investors, but last year a subsidiary of the United States defense contractor Huntington Ingalls Industries set up operation for the stated purpose of servicing United States Navy ships. The former naval base frequently hosts United States Navy ship visits.
Subic Bay is a special economic zone catering to private investors. Last year a subsidiary of the United States defense contractor Huntington Ingalls Industries set up operation for the stated purpose of servicing United States Navy ships, suggesting to some that the American presence in the area would grow.
The American military use of Subic, partially through commercial means, and the rotational presence model used in the southern Philippines are both indicators of what an American presence in the Philippines might look like in years to come, said James Hardy, Asia-Pacific editor for IHS Jane’s Defense Weekly.
Mr. Hardy said the American military’s use of Subic and the rotational presence model used in the southern Philippines were both indications of what an American presence in the Philippines might look like.
“The U.S.-Philippine talks build on the back of last year’s tentative agreements about Subic Bay and Cubi Point, which some might say are already acting as de facto bases for U.S. assets,” he said. “Certainly the buildup in Subic by companies that expect to support the U.S. military suggests an expectation that this is going to be a semipermanent presence.”
“Certainly the buildup in Subic by companies that expect to support the U.S. military suggests an expectation that this is going to be a semipermanent presence,” he said.
The United States facility in the southern Philippines, called Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines, or JSOTF-P, is a likely model for Subic, he said.
“JSOTF-P is a great example of a modern, 21st-century military operation,” he said. “The way in which it negotiates the political sensitivities of having U.S. forces on the ground in the Philippines also suggests it is a good template for the Subic Bay/Cubi Point setup.”
Paula Garcia, a spokeswoman for the Philippine Department of National Defense, noted that the two sides have not yet come to a final decision on the future makeup of United States forces in the Philippines.
“Everything is still on the drawing board,” she said.
