The Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan has been the site of maritime exercises with the militaries of the US, Japan, and Australia
PARTNERS. Military troops from the Philippines and US hold up their respective national flags during opening rites of the Philippines-US Balikatan Exercise in Quezon City on April 20, 2015. File photo by Ritchie Tongo/EPA
The Philippines and the United States have agreed on 5 local bases where US troops will be allowed to build facilities, a statement released by the Philippine embassy in the US said Saturday, March 19.
One of them is the Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, the closest to the disputed Kalayaan Group of Islands (Spratlys) in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). It has served as the jump off point for maritime surveillance activities in the West Philippine Sea.
The other 4 locations are the following: Basa Air Base in Batangas, Fort Magsaysay in Tarlac, Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro, and Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu.
The Antonio Bautista Air Base has been the site of maritime exercises with the militaries of the US, Japan, and Australia.
Previously, the Philippines said it was set to offer the US military use of 8 bases, after the country's Supreme Court upheld a security agreement with Washington in January 2016.
The Philippines and the US agreed to cooperate on maritime security at a time when China is seen to be eyeing control of key international trade routes in the disputed waters.
Below is the joint statement of the 6th United States-Philippines Bilateral Strategic Dialogue held on March 17-18 in Washington DC.
Embassy of the Philippines, Washington DC
Sixth United States-Philippines Bilateral Strategic Dialogue Joint Statement:
The United States and the Republic of the Philippines held the sixth Bilateral Strategic Dialogue (BSD) on March 17-18, 2016, in Washington, D.C. The annual dialogue supported and reinforced the Alliance across a broad range of shared values, interests, and priorities. The Dialogue was co-chaired by Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel and Assistant Secretary of Defense David Shear for the U...nited States and Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Evan P. Garcia and Undersecretary of National Defense Pio Lorenzo F. Batino for the Republic of the Philippines. Discussions reaffirmed shared commitment to strengthening the Alliance, in terms of ensuring both countries’ mutual defense and security, as well as jointly contributing to regional peace, stability, and economic prosperity.
The United States and the Republic of the Philippines held the sixth Bilateral Strategic Dialogue (BSD) on March 17-18, 2016, in Washington, D.C. The annual dialogue supported and reinforced the Alliance across a broad range of shared values, interests, and priorities. The Dialogue was co-chaired by Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel and Assistant Secretary of Defense David Shear for the U...nited States and Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Evan P. Garcia and Undersecretary of National Defense Pio Lorenzo F. Batino for the Republic of the Philippines. Discussions reaffirmed shared commitment to strengthening the Alliance, in terms of ensuring both countries’ mutual defense and security, as well as jointly contributing to regional peace, stability, and economic prosperity.
On the occasion of the BSD, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951, as articulated in the November 2011 Manila Declaration and more recently in the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). They noted agreement on five EDCA Agreed Locations encompassing portions of the following facilities and areas: Antonio Bautista Air Base, Basa Air Base, Fort Magsaysay, Lumbia Air Base, and Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base, and discussed next steps for implementation of the EDCA. The two sides discussed proposals to support the United States’ efforts to help modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines, develop capacity and capability for maritime security and domain awareness, and provide rapid humanitarian assistance.
The Philippines welcomed the intent of the U.S. Department of Defense to propose to the U.S. Congress that a significant amount under the Southeast Asia Maritime Security Initiative be allocated in Fiscal Year 2016 to the Philippines for mutually-agreed projects that directly support the country’s maritime security priorities. They committed to continue developing, planning, and executing defense cooperation activities to reinforce their respective national defense capabilities and interoperability, in the areas of maritime security and domain awareness, enhanced joint activities, humanitarian and disaster response, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and information sharing. Along this line, they also provided strategic policy guidance to the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) to enhance cooperation in addressing traditional and non-traditional security challenges.
Both sides reiterated their commitment to peace, security, and stability in the region, unimpeded lawful commerce, and freedoms of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the sea as guaranteed under international law. Both sides expressed their firm opposition to the ongoing militarization of outposts in the South China Sea and discussed their common view that the installation of new military assets on the outposts escalates tensions. They discussed options to address further militarization and unilateral actions in the South China Sea. The delegations from the United States and the Philippines reaffirmed that countries should clarify maritime claims in the South China Sea in accordance with international law as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention and peacefully resolve or manage disputes, including through the use of peaceful dispute settlement mechanisms, such as arbitration. Both sides restated their views that the ruling in the South China Sea case before the U.N. Law of the Sea Convention arbitral tribunal would be legally binding on both China and the Philippines. They reinforced the importance of close cooperation and consultation in international organizations and bodies that support a rules-based international order providing a framework for peaceful resolution of disputes.
The two sides decided to further deepen the already extensive U.S.-Philippine economic relationship based on a mutual commitment to free trade and economic opportunity. They welcomed the Trade & Investment Framework Agreement meeting on March 16 in Washington D.C., which advanced bilateral trade and investment issues between them and provided an opportunity to discuss the Philippines’ keen interest in the Trans-Pacific Partnership. They expressed their intention to renew the 2012 Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, which will help to ensure continued close collaboration in science and technology, energy security, health, climate change, and other areas. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of cooperating on ambitious action to combat climate change and to implement the Paris Agreement on sustainable fisheries management; on combating wildlife trafficking; and on environmental law enforcement capacity building.
The delegations from the United States and the Philippines noted that the first Millennium Challenge Corporation compact is on track to be successfully completed in May 2016, and reviewed progress of second compact development, as well as ongoing programs under the U.S. Agency for International Development that are building the conditions for stronger, more resilient and inclusive economic growth.
During the Dialogue, the two sides also discussed cooperative activities to support the rule of law, including law enforcement-related capacity building to assist the Philippines’ efforts to curb corruption, money laundering, trafficking in persons, terrorism, environmental crime, and cybercrime as just a few examples of extensive ongoing law enforcement cooperation. The U.S. side welcomed Philippine Senate ratification of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and Philippine progress toward accession to the Convention.
Finally, the delegations from the United States and the Philippines underscored the strong personal and societal bonds, including a commitment to shared values and norms, which form the core of the relationship, and reaffirmed their commitment to continue to support and deepen people-to-people ties and other exchanges that enrich both countries.
The Philippines welcomed the intent of the U.S. Department of Defense to propose to the U.S. Congress that a significant amount under the Southeast Asia Maritime Security Initiative be allocated in Fiscal Year 2016 to the Philippines for mutually-agreed projects that directly support the country’s maritime security priorities. They committed to continue developing, planning, and executing defense cooperation activities to reinforce their respective national defense capabilities and interoperability, in the areas of maritime security and domain awareness, enhanced joint activities, humanitarian and disaster response, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and information sharing. Along this line, they also provided strategic policy guidance to the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) to enhance cooperation in addressing traditional and non-traditional security challenges.
Both sides reiterated their commitment to peace, security, and stability in the region, unimpeded lawful commerce, and freedoms of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the sea as guaranteed under international law. Both sides expressed their firm opposition to the ongoing militarization of outposts in the South China Sea and discussed their common view that the installation of new military assets on the outposts escalates tensions. They discussed options to address further militarization and unilateral actions in the South China Sea. The delegations from the United States and the Philippines reaffirmed that countries should clarify maritime claims in the South China Sea in accordance with international law as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention and peacefully resolve or manage disputes, including through the use of peaceful dispute settlement mechanisms, such as arbitration. Both sides restated their views that the ruling in the South China Sea case before the U.N. Law of the Sea Convention arbitral tribunal would be legally binding on both China and the Philippines. They reinforced the importance of close cooperation and consultation in international organizations and bodies that support a rules-based international order providing a framework for peaceful resolution of disputes.
The two sides decided to further deepen the already extensive U.S.-Philippine economic relationship based on a mutual commitment to free trade and economic opportunity. They welcomed the Trade & Investment Framework Agreement meeting on March 16 in Washington D.C., which advanced bilateral trade and investment issues between them and provided an opportunity to discuss the Philippines’ keen interest in the Trans-Pacific Partnership. They expressed their intention to renew the 2012 Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, which will help to ensure continued close collaboration in science and technology, energy security, health, climate change, and other areas. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of cooperating on ambitious action to combat climate change and to implement the Paris Agreement on sustainable fisheries management; on combating wildlife trafficking; and on environmental law enforcement capacity building.
The delegations from the United States and the Philippines noted that the first Millennium Challenge Corporation compact is on track to be successfully completed in May 2016, and reviewed progress of second compact development, as well as ongoing programs under the U.S. Agency for International Development that are building the conditions for stronger, more resilient and inclusive economic growth.
During the Dialogue, the two sides also discussed cooperative activities to support the rule of law, including law enforcement-related capacity building to assist the Philippines’ efforts to curb corruption, money laundering, trafficking in persons, terrorism, environmental crime, and cybercrime as just a few examples of extensive ongoing law enforcement cooperation. The U.S. side welcomed Philippine Senate ratification of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and Philippine progress toward accession to the Convention.
Finally, the delegations from the United States and the Philippines underscored the strong personal and societal bonds, including a commitment to shared values and norms, which form the core of the relationship, and reaffirmed their commitment to continue to support and deepen people-to-people ties and other exchanges that enrich both countries.
Like 4 Comment 2 The statement also said, "The two sides discussed proposals to support the United States’ efforts to help modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines, develop capacity and capability for maritime security and domain awareness, and provide rapid humanitarian assistance." Both sides likewise expressed their "firm opposition to the ongoing militarization of outposts in the South China Sea and discussed their common view that the installation of new military assets on the outposts escalates tensions." They agreed that countries should clarify maritime claims in the South China Sea "in accordance with international law" and peacefully resolve or manage disputes through arbitration. It was an apparent reference to China which has insisted on bilateral talks with the Philippines to settle maritime disputes. The Philippines has brought its case for arbitration to United Nations-backed arbitral tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands. Both sides reiterated that the ruling in the South China Sea case before the UN Law of the Sea Convention arbitral tribunal "would be legally binding on both China and the Philippines." Likewise, the two sides mentioned the need for cooperative activities to "support the rule of law, including law enforcement-related capacity building to assist the Philippines’ efforts to curb corruption, money laundering, trafficking in persons, terrorism, environmental crime, and cybercrime." The US and the Philippines also "discussed next steps of implementation" of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) although details were not provided. The US defense department is likewise seeking congressional approval to allocate a "significant amount" to maritime security priorities in the Philippines. The Dialogue was co-chaired by Assistant State Secretary Daniel Russel and Assistant Defense Secretary David Shear for the US, and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Evan Garcia and Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino for the Philippines. http://www.rappler.com/nation/126438-ph-us-edca-palawan-security |
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