DND chief rules out 'new bases,' but expanded US—and even Japanese--access possible

From  InterAksyon (Jun 27): DND chief rules out 'new bases,' but expanded US—and even Japanese--access possible

Amid rising tension over territorial disputes between China and its Southeast Asian neighbors, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Thursday shot down speculations over plans to build air and naval bases in the country to accommodate US forces.

However, he hinted that there are talks of a scheme that allows US forces - and even Japan's - greater, temporary access to certain Philippine sites as part of defense cooperation.

The speculation was fanned by the holding this week of joint naval exercises by the Philippines and the US near Panatag Shoal off western Luzon, where Chinese military boats blocked Philippine attempts to apprehend poachers in April 2012, triggering a standoff.

“Let me clarify issues. We’re not going to construct bases,” Gazmin declared.

Nonetheless, said the defense chief, the Philippine government may or may not enter into an agreement to give greater access to American forces, or even Japanese forces, to visit Philippine military bases.

"We will be accepting access. Right now the agreement has not been firmed up. We are in the process of crafting the agreement relative to our Constitution and the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). After that is done, then we will be allowing [access]. If and when there is agreement on the access, then there will be equipment coming in from the United States,” Gazmin said.

He then turned to the matter of Japan, which on Thursday reiterated its willingness to help the Philippines, which it occupied for three years during World War II, defend its territory against China.

Japan and China have their own festering dispute over a chain of islands in the East China Sea, known as Senkakus to Japan and Diaoyus to China.

“Now, as far as Japan is concerned, we do welcome other countries, particularly Japan, since it is a strategic partner in accordance with our existing protocols,” Gazmin said.

At the opening of the PH-US Balikatan Exercises 2013 a month ago at Camp Aguinaldo, the national headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, both Gazmin and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the government is open to giving American forces greater access to military “bases” in the country such as the one in Subic Bay in Zambales, which once hosted the largest US military base outside of the US mainland, until 1991.

The officials, however, clarified that this can be done only in “extreme situations.”
Gazmin explained again on Thursday that an agreement is very much possible because of the “increased rotational presence” of US forces in the Asia Pacific.

“The modalities for the increased rotational presence are right now being examined. One modality is a conduct of high-value, high-impact exercises. We do have this regular exercise with the Americans and we have not talked about specific equipment but we do welcome the inclusion of a new technology, very new to us that this is part of our education,” he said.

As Gazmin spoke, another joint PH-US naval exercise started near Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal off Masinloc, Zambales, where Chinese military and civilian surveillance vessels and fishing boats had descended more than a year ago.

In April 2012, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF15) of Philippine Navy apprehended 10 Chinese fishing vessels caught poaching in the area. But a Chinese maritime ship, bigger than the Navy patrol ship, blocked the Navy’s attempt to apprehend the poachers, leading to a standoff—and the virtual occupation of the site by Chinese boats that never left.

At the height of diplomatic shuttling, Manila withdrew its maritime vessels from Panatag to “de-escalate” the tensions but China did not.

Sources said “satellite photos” of new Chinese activities at Panatag are already in the hands of the government, which continues to deny such.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/65084/dnd-chief-rules-out-new-bases-but-expanded-usand-even-japanese--access-possible