No reason for China to worry–Palace

MANILA, Philippines—China need not be alarmed or even take offense over the Philippines’ discussions with the United States for an increased American military presence in the archipelago, a Malacañang official said on Saturday.

Secretary Ricky Carandang, a communications aide of President Benigno Aquino III, said the talks between Philippine officials and their US counterparts didn’t involve any offensive posturing in the disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Asked if a new agreement covering an expanded US presence in the Philippines would antagonize China, Carandang said, “Not necessarily.”

“We are merely taking steps to enhance our own security and all these initiatives are of a defensive nature and there is no effort being made to project any offensive capability,” Carandang said in a text message.

He said no US troops or armaments, if at all, would be based in the undisputed Philippine territory. There will also be no permanent bases, he added.

China is now the second largest economy in the world. Trade ties with the Philippines have been growing despite tensions over conflicting claims to parts of the Spratlys islands and some reefs near Palawan in the West Philippine Sea.

Carandang couldn’t say, however, if the deal would be finalized when President Aquino meets with US President Barack Obama in the middle of the year.

While Carandang spoke, Filipino activists picketed the US Embassy in Manila and burned a cardboard American flag and mock Stealth bomber, vowing to launch a campaign opposing the plan to allow more US troops in the country.

Uncle Sam’s ‘dog’

About 50 members of Bayan, a left-leaning nationalist alliance, also held up a huge effigy of Uncle Sam, the popular symbol of the American government, together with one of President Aquino—whom they labelled Uncle Sam’s “dog.”

“If we allow more US troops to enter our country, the entire archipelago will be transformed into one military outpost for US hegemonic interests,” Bayan said in a statement distributed at the rally.

Meanwhile, the chief of the US Pacific Command clarified in a news conference on Saturday that the US wanted a greater military presence in Southeast Asia but was not seeking permanent bases in the region.

Adm. Robert Willard said arrangements announced in recent months to station American troops in northern Australia and dock US Navy vessels in Singapore would enable the US to rotate forces through Southeast Asia more easily, and without the cost of maintaining bases there.

He indicated the US was seeking a similar arrangement with the Philippines.

“We would welcome discussions with the Philippines along those lines but there’s no aspirations for bases in Southeast Asia,” Willard told the news conference.

In northeast Asia, the US Pacific command has 50,000 troops stationed in Japan and 28,000 in South Korea.  Willard said their primary mission was to protect the sea lanes in the South China Sea that carry $5 trillion in commerce annually, including $1.2 trillion in trade with the US.

In Washington on Friday, senior US and Philippine diplomats and defense officials completed two days of strategic talks. They agreed to increase cooperation in areas including maritime security, defense, commerce and disaster relief, a joint statement said.

Both sides have been at pains to say that reestablishing the kind of permanent American bases that were closed in the Philippines 20 years ago was not in the cards.

But in Manila, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a statement the Philippines was considering more joint military exercises with the US and “a rotating and more frequent presence by them.”

Fighter jets, weapons

The Philippines also wants more training and American military hardware: an additional US Coast Guard cutter, a squadron of F-16 fighter jets and other weapons to bolster its territorial defense.

This reflects a concern over China’s growing military power and assertive behavior in the resource-rich South China Sea, where the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan all have conflicting territorial claims with the Asian superpower.

The US says it has a national interest in the peaceful resolution of those disputes and in freedom of navigation in waters that are home to some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. For its part, China views the US strategic shift to Asia and diplomatic pronouncements on the South China Sea as an attempt to contain it.

Willard expressed concern over “area denial” capabilities in the region—a reference to China’s growing missile, air, sea and cyber war strength. He said the US wanted deeper military ties with China, to contribute to regional stability and prosperity. With AP, Reuters, AFP reports