Philippines, US agree to boost defense alliance to counter China

Philippines Foreign Relations Secretary Albert Del Rosario, left, with Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Ash Carter, arrive for a meeting between the U.S. and the Philippines, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, in the Benjamin Franklin room of the State Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

The United States and the Philippines have agreed to bolster their defense alliance in the face of perceived Chinese expansion in regional waters, the allies said in a joint statement Thursday following top-level talks in Washington.

In a statement, Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and US counterparts John Kerry and Ash Carter said both parties agreed to ease tensions in disputed South China Sea waters but stressed the “ironclad” commitment by Washington to its poorly equipped defense ally.

It said an enhanced defense cooperation pact recently cleared by Manila’s highest court, would boost the partnership, and pave the way for the transfer of a third high-endurance cutter and research ship this year.

A similar, former US ship now patrols Philippine territory after it was transformed as the local navy’s flagship.

The agreement will also see more US troops and equipment on local soil, 15 years after two of America’s largest overseas bases were shut down by a nationalistic legislature.

The ministers “discussed regional and global challenges that threaten peace and stability and the rule of law,” the statement said.

Both parties underscored the need for all parties to refrain from “provocative, unilateral actions that aim to change the status quo in the South China Sea” even as it stressed that a UN arbitral tribunal’s ruling was legally binding on both China and the Philippines.

China has steadfastly ignored the tribunal, and has said it would rather engage complaining parties bilaterally, a move Manila has rejected.

“The Ministers also highlighted the importance of parties taking active steps to reduce tensions, including halting the reclamation, construction on, and militarization of outposts in the South China Sea and to refrain from any actions that harass, coerce, or intimidate other parties in the South China Sea,” the statement said.

More specifically, they noted that recent test flights carried out by Chinese in the region exacerbated tensions and went against earlier commitments to refrain from actions that could further raise the dispute.

“The Ministers expressed concern regarding large-scale land reclamation of occupied features, as well as the construction of new facilities and airstrips on them, and their impact on the marine environment, and recognized the importance of the SCS to the welfare and livelihoods of the many people who have for generations depended on the living resources of the South China Sea,” the statement said.

China claims almost the whole of the South China Sea, while Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines also have rival claims to parts of the sea, which is believed to have untapped gas and mineral deposits.

China has of late adopted a more aggressive posture, carrying test flights to reefs it has expanded in what the Philippine said was a prelude to it declaring an air defense zone.

Earlier this week, the Philippine Supreme Court voted that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement both countries signed last year was constitutional and did not need the concurrence of the Senate, which views it as a treaty.

But petitioners against the deal warned that it could expose Manila to the entry of nuclear weapons as well as allow the large-scale return of American personnel.

The Philippines hosted the US’ biggest military bases outside of the mainland until 1991, when a nationalistic senate voted to shut down the facilities.

Del Rosario said Philippine-US defense alliance “are truly at its best point” since the first “2 plus 2″ meeting took place in 2012.

“One factor behind this is the conscious effort of our leaders to invest in our enduring engagement, and another factor is the emergence of regional challenges that have underscored the need for concerted effort to protect our common values,” del Rosario said.

“Our defense and security engagement has never been stronger nor more focused. Our cooperation in the area of maritime security and maritime domain awareness benefits not just our mutual defense but also actively contributes to maintaining regional stability,” he said.

The Filipino officials also met with the US Armed Services Committee, which had batter for stronger US presence in the region.

Manila hopes to get a share of the $50 million in funds under the Maritime Security Initiative announced by President Barrack Obama in November. The funds are allotted for Southeast Asian countries to strengthen their maritime security capabilities.

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