Philippine Marines with the Joint Rapid Reaction Force conduct an amphibious landing utilizing logistical navy ships to seize a scenario-based objective as part of the Balikatan joint exercises in this 2016 photo.
Published December 23, 2023
During the second visit to Manila of U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on February 2, Filipino and U.S. security officials announced that additional Philippine military facilities would host U.S. forces under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
This announcement boosted the Biden administration’s efforts to expand the American strategic footprint across the first island chain to counter China’s aggressive moves against Taiwan.
The EDCA’s new provision would add four more sites to the five Philippine military bases that American forces already use for training, pre-positioning equipment, taking-off and landing operations, and other functions.
On April 3, the Philippine government revealed the locations of the four new EDCA sites available for U.S. troop deployments in northern Luzon and Palawan, confirming their positions near Taiwan and the South China Sea. These locations would provide U.S. forces with a strategic vantage point from which they could mount rapid military operations in the event of an armed confrontation between the United States and China over Taiwan, which is more than 250 miles north of Luzon or the South China Sea.
Consequently, the Chinese embassy in Manila quickly opposed American strategic access to these Philippine bases. Chinese foreign minister and Politburo member Wang Yi warned President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. not to “lose the momentum” of his agreement with President Xi Jinping regarding the appropriate management of the South China Sea differences.
Along with his commitment to fund the third horizon of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) modernization program, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s decision to allow the United States to strengthen its strategic presence in the country marked the return of the Philippine policy of hard balancing towards China.
This is reminiscent of the late President Benigno Aquino III’s policy of hard balancing that challenged China’s expansive maritime claim in the South China Sea.
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SOURCE: www.philstar.com
RELATED: Philippines Seeks Fighting Falcons To Fight China; Negotiates With US To Acquire ‘Combat Proven’ F-16 Jets
Published December 23, 2023
To enhance its defense capabilities amid escalating maritime tensions with China, the Philippines is currently in talks with the United States to acquire combat-proven F-16 fighter jets.
The Philippine Ambassador to the United States, Jose Manuel Romualdez, has disclosed ongoing discussions regarding Manila’s possible acquisition of F-16 fighter jets from Washington.
Romualdez emphasized the long-standing desire of the Philippine Air Force for F-16 fighter jets, acknowledging their effectiveness in air defense during an interview with CNN Philippines.
Romualdez pointed out the adaptability and proven effectiveness of the F-16, which can handle air-to-air combat, ground attacks, and electronic warfare.
While discussing the potential deal, the ambassador did not provide a specific timeline but mentioned that “open discussions” are ongoing. However, the Philippines seems to lean towards acquiring used aircraft rather than purchasing brand-new ones.
The ambassador underscored challenges posed by the Philippines’ procurement law, which requires acquiring brand-new equipment and may complicate the deal.
Romualdez proposed that considering the substantial expense of brand-new fighter jets, opting for a slightly used aircraft could present a practical and more cost-effective solution.
Nonetheless, if the F-16 deal materializes, it will significantly enhance the country’s air warfare capabilities.
The nation is strengthening its defense capabilities by modernizing its armed forces and establishing a substantial presence in the exclusive economic zone, especially in the West Philippine Sea, where maritime tensions with China persist.
In 2024, the ambassador anticipates increasing military and defense cooperation between Manila and Washington.
The increasing cooperation between the two countries became apparent earlier this year when the Philippines granted expanded access to four new bases for US troops. This strategic move holds significance due to the strategic location of the bases in the southwest Pacific.
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SOURCE: www.eurasiantimes.com
RELATED: PH policy in WPS row with China must transcend political regimes – maritime law expert
Published December 20, 2023
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 20) — Ambassador Henry Bensurto Jr., the diplomat who designed the blueprint of the Philippines’ case against China at The Hague, said Manila’s policy in its maritime dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) should be long-term and independent of political administrations.
In an interview on CNN Philippines’ Politics As Usual on Wednesday, Bensurto, who is currently Philippine envoy to Turkiye, explained that the WPS row is a “long haul struggle” that calls for consistency and commitment.
“What we have to do is look at it from a very strategic perspective — a policy that transcends political administrations, and for every administration to remain committed, constant, and consistent in working on that strategic perspective,” Bensurto said.
“We have to make clear to every political administration that this is the national interest of the country and that this should be beyond politics because the West Philippine Sea issue is a non-partisan issue,” stressed Bensurto, who was part of the Philippine team that filed the arbitration case against China.
The arbitral tribunal in 2016 ruled in favor of the Philippines and nullified China’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea, which overlapped with the WPS.
The career diplomat said that while China is aware that it is “not on the right,” it is “actively exploiting” the Philippines’ willingness to change course in response to the political atmosphere, which he said is perceived as a sign of weakness.
“China knows it is not on the right,” Bensurto said. “This has been proven with the third-party adjudication. But if China is convinced that we ourselves are not convinced and we are not committed and we cannot sustain this in the long run, they will persist and they will continue.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently expressed that the “more assertive” Beijing is posing a “real challenge” to its Asian neighbors.
Marcos succeeded former president Rodrigo Duterte, who nurtured friendly ties with China under his term.
“We know now that appeasement is not a correct approach because instead of settling the issue, it actually aggravates the matter and places the situation in a more conflictual manner,” said Bensurto.
With China ignoring the Philippines’ diplomatic efforts, Marcos also called for the need for a “paradigm shift” in addressing the WPS issue, which Bensurto hailed as a “shift in the right direction.”
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SOURCE: www.cnnphilippines.com
