US agrees to ‘rotational presence’ at five military bases in the Philippines

Philippines allows US to use 5 military bases
US Agrees to Rotational Presence at 5 Military Bases Throughout the Philippines – www.plnmedia.com

The United States and the Philippines have announced a deal allowing for a US military presence at five bases under a security agreement inked amid rising tensions over the South China Sea.

A joint statement after an annual US-Philippines Strategic Dialogue listed the sites as Antonio Bautista Air Base, close to the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, Basa Air Base north of Manila, Fort Magsaysay in Palayan, Lumbia Air Base in Mindanao and Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu.

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US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence Amy Searight said the deal was reached under the 2014 Enhanced Defence Co-operation Agreement (EDCA) that grants Washington increased military presence in its former colony through rotation of ships and aircraft for humanitarian and maritime security operations.

Searight told the meeting Manila was a “critical US ally” and that ties had never been stronger. She said US Defense Secretary Ash Carter would visit the Philippines in April to discuss implementation of the agreement.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg told reporters movements of supplies and personnel to the base locations would take place “very soon”.

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He described the agreement, valid for an 10 years, as “a pretty big deal”.

However, he stressed that it did not allow for permanent US bases that existed for 94 years until 1991, when the Philippine Senate voted to evict them.

“This isn’t a return to that era. These are different reasons and for 21st century issues, including maritime security,” he said, adding that all US deployments would require Philippine approval.

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The United States is keen to boost the military capabilities of East Asian countries and its own regional presence in the face of China’s assertive pursuit of territorial claims in the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest trade routes.

US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel said Friday’s agreement came at an important time ahead of a ruling in a case the Philippines has brought against China over its South China Sea claims at the International Court of Arbitration in the Hague.

On Thursday, the US Navy said it had seen activity around a reef China seized from the Philippines nearly four years ago that could be a precursor to more Chinese land reclamation in the South China Sea.

In an interview with Reuters, Navy chief Admiral John Richardson also expressed concern that the Hague ruling, which is expected in late May, could prompt Beijing to declare a South China Sea exclusion zone.

Searight said the Pentagon had told the US Congress of its intention to provide $50 million to help build regional maritime security. She said the Philippines would get “the lion’s share” of the funds, which are expected to go towards improving radar and other South China Sea monitoring capabilities.

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