Barack Obama woos Manila as Philippines, US ink security deal
29 April 2014 12:02 AM GMT
The agreement, which will have an initial 10-year term, is touted as the highlight of Obama’s first visit to the Philippines, the United States’ oldest ally in the region. It sets the framework for a beefed-up rotation of US troops, ships and warplanes through the Philippines, part of a rebalancing of US resources towards fast-growing Asia and the Pacific.
The deal comes at a time when the Southeast Asian nation is struggling to boost its military capability in the face of China’s growing maritime presence in disputed areas of the South China Sea.
Those growing regional tensions were highlighted by a commentary from China’s state news agency Xinhua on Monday criticizing the pact.
‘Given that the Philippines is at a bitter territorial row with China, the move is particularly disturbing as it may embolden Manila in dealing with Beijing,’ the commentary said. ‘A more assertive or even reckless Manila would stoke regional tensions and in turn upset Obama’s policy of rebalancing.’
Obama shook hands with Philippine officials at the Manila airport tarmac and waved to the crowd before boarding his Marine One chopper that took him to the presidential palace for bilateral talks with Philippine President Benigno Aquino. He was greeted with a 21-gun salute upon his arrival at the palace.
Philip Goldberg, US ambassador to the Philippines, said the new security agreement will form part of the USA’s existing military treaty with the Philippines, adding it would not introduce a permanent US military presence in the country via new military bases. ‘It will serve to update our security alliance to meet the increasingly complex challenges of the 21st century, whether it is terrorism, transnational crimes or natural disasters like typhoon Haiyan,’ Goldberg said in a speech at the signing ceremony. He added the deal, called the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, would allow for more joint training activities for US and Philippine forces.
The two nations will hold joint military exercises next week in areas mostly north of the capital. Officials said the new security accord did not specify the number of US troops and equipment to be deployed in the country, with those details to be discussed separately by the two governments.
‘They can do construction and upgrade of infrastructure, they can store or preposition defence equipment, supplies and material, as well as hard equipment and supplies,’ said Lourdes Yparaguirre, Philippine’s ambassador to Austria who also worked on the deal for
eight months.
The deal comes at a time when the Southeast Asian nation is struggling to boost its military capability in the face of China’s growing maritime presence in disputed areas of the South China Sea.
Those growing regional tensions were highlighted by a commentary from China’s state news agency Xinhua on Monday criticizing the pact.
‘Given that the Philippines is at a bitter territorial row with China, the move is particularly disturbing as it may embolden Manila in dealing with Beijing,’ the commentary said. ‘A more assertive or even reckless Manila would stoke regional tensions and in turn upset Obama’s policy of rebalancing.’
Obama shook hands with Philippine officials at the Manila airport tarmac and waved to the crowd before boarding his Marine One chopper that took him to the presidential palace for bilateral talks with Philippine President Benigno Aquino. He was greeted with a 21-gun salute upon his arrival at the palace.
Philip Goldberg, US ambassador to the Philippines, said the new security agreement will form part of the USA’s existing military treaty with the Philippines, adding it would not introduce a permanent US military presence in the country via new military bases. ‘It will serve to update our security alliance to meet the increasingly complex challenges of the 21st century, whether it is terrorism, transnational crimes or natural disasters like typhoon Haiyan,’ Goldberg said in a speech at the signing ceremony. He added the deal, called the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, would allow for more joint training activities for US and Philippine forces.
The two nations will hold joint military exercises next week in areas mostly north of the capital. Officials said the new security accord did not specify the number of US troops and equipment to be deployed in the country, with those details to be discussed separately by the two governments.
‘They can do construction and upgrade of infrastructure, they can store or preposition defence equipment, supplies and material, as well as hard equipment and supplies,’ said Lourdes Yparaguirre, Philippine’s ambassador to Austria who also worked on the deal for
eight months.
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