PH-US defense board to discuss basing this October

From InterAksyon (May 16): PH-US defense board to discuss basing this October

General Emmanuel Bautista, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, said on Friday that the Mutual Defense Board (MDB) will be discussing in detail the temporary basing procedures with American forces and their naval and air assets mostly in areas fronting the West Philippine Sea (WPS) where China has been exerting aggressive moves regarding contested maritime territories.

The MDB is co-chaired by the AFP and the commander of the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM), whose command leadership is based in Hawaii.

"There is a process to determine the bases that will be offered and be made to undergo approval process. This will be tackled by the MDB when it meets in October," Bautista said.

Bautista said he personally prefers that American troops and their equipment be based in Oyster Bay (Ulugan Bay) in Palawan; the former American base in Subic, Zambales; and Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija where the Army’s 7th Infantry Division is based.

"It's not just that they are facing the West Philippine Sea but they are also good bases that can be developed. There is room for development in these places," Bautista explained after the closing ceremony of the 2014 PH-US Balikatan exercises that saw more than 4,000 Filipino and American troops in action at the WPS.

At present, China is said to be illegaly maintaining its presence on Mabini Reef and Ayungin Reef, both in the Kalayaan Islands Group, and Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in Masinloc, Zambales.

With these developments in the West Philippine Sea, Bautista said he sees the necessity of more military exercises not only with American troops but also other allies, such as Australia and Japan, among others.

Earlier, Bautista said the recently signed Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) is a "deterrent" to threats to regional peace and security.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/86984/ph-us-defense-board-to-discuss-basing-this-october