No new U.S. bases in PH, no move to counter China via EDCA, says Obama

From InterAksyon (Apr 28): No new U.S. bases in PH, no move to counter China via EDCA, says Obama

U.S. President Barack Obama has reiterated that American military bases will not return to the Philippines with the signing of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the two countries.

He also said that the signing of the pact with Philippines was not a move to either contain or counter China, which has an on-going dispute with the Philippines over territories in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

At a press conference in Malacanang with President Benigno Aquino III Monday afternoon, Obama said, "I'll be very clear, the United States is not trying to reclaim old bases or build new bases. At the invitation of the Philippines, American servicemen will rotate through Filipino facilities and exercise more together, so we're prepared for a range (of) challenges including humanitarian crisis and natural disasters like Yolanda," he said.

"We have decades of alliance with the Philippines. But in the 21st century, we have to update that," the U.S. chief executive said.

He said EDCA would be a "terrific opportunity for us to work with the Philippines, to make sure there's information sharing." He said that through the pact, the U.S. would be able to help the Philippines not just on ensuring its maritime security but also in responding to natural disasters, extreme weather conditions such as super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), and other problems caused by climate change.

Obama made the statement after Filipino activists assailed the signing of the EDCA, claiming that the pact was a proof of American “expansionism” abetted by the “subservience” of the Philippine government.

“The signing of this new 10-year pact between Washington and Manila would usher in a decade of slavery for the Filipino people who will be forced to again witness rapacious American expansionism and militarization, a decade which will be marked not by increased peace and stability -- but rather increased tension and unease,” said Kabataan party-list Representative Terry Ridon.

“Our countrymen do not deserve this new travesty against our national sovereignty,”added the activist lawmaker.

[READ RELATED STORY: Activists blast EDCA signing, US 'expansionism' and PH gov't's 'subservience, betrayal'] 

No attempt to counter China via EDCA 

Hours after the U.S. signed the pact with the Philippines, Obama said U.S. goal was not to contain or counter China. "We welcome China's peaceful rise. We have a constructive relationship with China."

Obama nevertheless backed Manila's effort to get its territorial disputes with China adjudicated by international arbitration. "We affirm the importance of solving territorial disputes peacefully."

"Our goal is not to counter China. Our goal is to make sure international rules are respected that includes the area of maritime disputes," Obama said.

Washington, however, argues that Beijing must play by the "rules of the road" to make sure that territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas are solved in line with international law, not by intimidation or coercion.

"We do not take specific positions in the dispute between two nations...but we don't think that coercion is the way to manage this dispute," the U.S. president said.

Obama's tour of US allies in Asia encompassing Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines over the last week has been closely watched in Beijing, which is sensitive to any suggestion Washington is trying to prevent China's development as a regional superpower.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/85637/no-new-u-s--bases-in-ph-no-move-to-counter-china-via-edca-says-obama