The eyes of the world may be on Russia and the war in Ukraine, but the US has long viewed China as “the greatest long-term threat” to its economy and national security, as well as those of its allies. And they are looking for ways to counter Beijing’s growing power, which is more assertive towards Taiwan and in territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The strengthening of the military presence in the Philippines, with permission to install North American troops in four more bases (in addition to the current five), is an important step in this power play. A move that China immediately criticized.
The announcement of the agreement was made during US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s visit to Manila. “The US has always been our oldest partner and ally,” said Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “I have always said that it seems to me that the future of the Philippines, and indeed the entire Asia-Pacific region, will always involve the US”, indicated. Under the agreement, the Americans will have access to four more bases in “strategic areas of the country”, the locations of which have not been specified. Philippine Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez said these will be made known after discussions with local authorities.
However, it is speculated that the Americans want to stay on Luzon Island (the largest and closest to Taiwan), where they already have permission to access two bases. And that there is also interest in a second base on the western island of Palawan, close to the Spratly Islands, whose sovereignty is disputed by Beijing and several countries in the region and where China has already built at least three military bases.
In practice, the US is preparing to respond to the two main threats. Tensions between China and Taiwan have risen in recent months. (which Beijing regards as one of its provinces, whose sovereignty it wants to retake by force). After the visit of then-Leader of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, China sent warships, bombers and fighter jets near Taiwan, raising fears of a possible blockade or even military action.
On the other hand, the Chinese are engaged in territorial disputes with the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan in the South China Sea., rich in resources and an important maritime route. The Americans have several ships in the region and are conducting surveillance missions in the name of freedom of navigation that Beijing criticizes.
China has also already expressed its displeasure with the strengthening of the US presence in the Philippines. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning accused the US of pursuing a “selfish agenda” with the new deal. “The US has embraced a Cold War zero-sum mentality and stepped up its military deployment in the region,” he said at the daily press conference. “This is an act that increases tensions in the region and threatens peace and stability in the region.”
History
The Philippines, with its more than seven thousand islands, was colonized by the Spaniards, who controlled the area for over three centuries until 1898 when, after losing the Spanish-American War, they transferred control to the US. The archipelago would be invaded by Japan in World War II and independence was recognized at the end of the conflict in 1946.
Because of their shared history, the Philippines is the oldest US military ally in the region, having signed the first Mutual Defense Treaty in 1951. But anti-American sentiment, in the last decade of the last century, and disagreement over the cost of the concession led the Philippines to order the closure of the last US military base in 1992 (Subic Bay), which at the time housed 7,000 people. . .
However, in 1999 an agreement opened the door to large-scale joint military exercises between the two countries. In 2014, another agreement allowed the Americans to deploy troops to five Philippine bases in addition to defense equipment (which must not contain nuclear weapons): Antonio Bautista (in the Palawan region), Basa (in Pampanga), Fort Magsaysay (Nueva Ecija), Lumbia Airport (in the city of Cagayan de Oro) and Benito Ebuen (in Mactan, on the island of Cebu).
The US rebuilt its military presence in the country, but the arrival of Rodrigo Duterte to power in 2016 led to a deterioration in relations. The president argued that it was “time to say goodbye” to the US, and on several occasions threatened to tear up the last two agreements (he never did) in an attempt to get closer to Beijing – despite the disputes in the South Chinese Ocean.
But the current president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (son of the former dictator of the same name, who ruled from 1965 to 1986), has sought to restore ties with the US since taking office in June.
Source: DN
