US Embassy: EDCA will upgrade capability of AFP

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 12): US Embassy: EDCA will upgrade capability of AFP

The United States on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), saying the military accord will further strengthen the bilateral relationship between Manila and Washington.

Finalized after eight rounds of talks that began in August 2013, the new accord signed in 2014 grants U.S. troops access to designated Philippine military facilities, the right to construct facilities, and pre-position equipment, aircraft and vessels, but rules out permanent basing.

The Philippine Constitution outlaws foreign military bases in the country unless covered by a treaty.

"EDCA is a mutually beneficial agreement that will enhance our ability to provide rapid humanitarian assistance and help build capacity for the Armed Forces of the Philippines," the US Embassy said in a statement.

"We look forward to working closely with our Philippine partners on the implementation of this agreement."

The Department of Foreign Affairs said EDCA is a critical component of the country's efforts to enhance and strengthen national security and improve its humanitarian assistance and disaster response capabilities.

"With the Supreme Court’s decision, the Philippine and US Governments can now proceed in finalizing the arrangements for its full implementation," the DFA said.

Manila has turned to its long-standing ally, the U.S., Japan and other western allies in an ongoing effort to modernize its ill-equipped military and strengthen its capability to guard and defend its territory in the South China Sea, which is claimed nearly in its entirety by China.

Parts of the resource-rich waters that fall within the Philippines’ internationally-mandated exclusive economic zone has been renamed West Philippine Sea by Manila.

After years of pre-occupation in the wars in Iraq and Afganistan, the U.S. announced an Asian “pivot” and identified the Philippines as a key pillar in its re-balancing to the region where a rising China is fast building clout and influence.

China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan are locked in decades-long territorial rifts due to overlapping claims in the South China Sea, a major international trade route where huge oil and gas deposits have been discovered in several areas. Analysts feared the maritime row could be a flashpoint for major military confrontations.

The government of President Aquino III vowed to resolve territorial disputes with China through diplomacy, but at the same time has undertaken a program to modernize the Philippine military – one of Asia’s weakest - for the country to have a “minimum credible defense posture.”

Beijing insists “indisputable” and “historical” claim of most of the South China Sea – an assertion rejected by its Asian neighbors.

China’s rapidly expanding military presence in the area, including in the West Philippine Sea, prompted the Philippines to seek international arbitration to try to declare Beijing’s massive claim as illegal.

The U.S. said it does not take sides in the disputes but has declared that it is in its national interest to ensure freedom of navigation and aviation and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

For decades, the U.S. maintained large military bases in Clark, Pampanga and Subic Bay in Olongapo, Zambales until Philippine lawmakers voted to close it down in 1991.

Eight years after it shut down its bases, American forces returned to the country under the Visiting Forces Agreement, which was ratified by the Senate in 1999 to govern the temporary stay of U.S. forces for joint trainings with the Philippine military.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=845751