CPP/Ang Bayan: Balikatan Exercises and EDCA

From the English language edition of Ang Bayan (May 21): Balikatan Exercises and EDCA

Up to 3,000 American soldiers arrived in the Philippines to join Balikatan Exercise 2014 from May 6-16. It was the 30th in the Balikatan series and the biggest and first to be launched after the Aquino regime and the US government signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) on April 28.

More than 4,500 AFP troops joined the Balikatan. Also attending were 60 Australian troops and 25 members of the Hawaii National Guard. Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City and the Western Command in Puerto Princesa, Palawan served as Balikatan’s command centers.

The live fire exercises, combat maneuvers and other training were held at the Naval Education and Training Center in San Antonio, Zambales; Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija; Clark Air Base in Angeles City; Crow Valley, Tarlac; and Marine Base in Ternate, Cavite. Up to 700 US and AFP troops also launched a mock attack by land and air in Palanan, Isabela.

The US used the opportunity to project its military might. The USS Tortuga docked at Subic to bring troops and military equipment. Modern weapons like the Osprey; F/A Jet Fighters, CH-53 transport helicopter; Sikorsky and Cobra attack helicopter; and Hercules cargo aircraft, among others were used in the combat maneuvers.

Using “humanitarian operations” as camouflage, the US military sent 200 American troops to Guinobatan, Albay and Legazpi City from April 21 to May 7, and even to Tacloban City, Cebu City and Bohol. There was much ado in the media about a classroom repaired by the troops and the provision of a few days’ medical and veterinary services. What went unannounced were the American troops’ other activities, among them partnering with local troops in the antiguerrilla war and laying down communications and intelligence infrastructure.

To create the impression that the US would stand by the Philippines’ side in its territorial assertions versus China, American troops conducted military maneuvers in the South China Sea. In fact, the US has made no commitment to side with the Philippines should an armed confrontation erupt regarding the conflicting claims in the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista endorsed three AFP military bases on May 5 for the use of the US in stationing its troops and equipment. Bautista identified them as the naval detachment in Oyster Bay in Palawan; the naval station in San Antonio, Zambales; and the Philippine Army base in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.

Under the newly signed EDCA, the Philippine government will be providing the US with “Agreed Locations” or areas within AFP military camps that could be used for weapons storage, maintaining sea vessels, landing and launching airplanes and drones, resupplying and as rest and recreation stations for American soldiers.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/publications/ang_bayan/20140521/balikatan-exercises-and-edca