PH claims US bases not for ‘offensive action’

THE Philippine government claimed the increasing number of US military bases in the country would not be used for “offensive actions” as it aligns its statement with America’s position that both countries’ deepening military cooperation is not directed against any “third country” in the region but amidst the backdrop of the biggest and longest ‘Balikatan’ military exercise on Philippine soil that is clearly directed against China (see related article).

In an interview with the mainstream media on April 9, a day before the start of the Balikatan, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he acknowledged the concern raised by China over the increasing number of US military facilities but claimed the Philippine government would not allow them to be used for “offensive actions.”

“Now, China’s reaction perhaps was not surprising because they are worried. But we will not – we will not use, we will not allow, the Philippines, we will not allow our bases to be used for any offensive action. This is only to help the Philippines when the Philippines needs help,” the President said in a report filed by the Philippine Star. His assertion was carried out by both the local and foreign media.

The National Security Council (NSC), in a statement on April 15, 2023 released by Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya, said National Security Adviser (NSA) Secretary Eduardo M. Año also assured Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian said the increased security cooperation between the Philippines and the United States “is meant to develop and strengthen the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to enable it to protect and defend the territory of the Philippines and is not meant to contain or counter any nation in the region or to interfere in another nation’s affairs.”

The NSC added that the “Philippines has no intention of interfering in the Taiwan issue and that is “primordial concern” in the island is the “safety and well-being” of the more than 150,000 Filipinos living and working there.

Speaking at the ‘8^th Manila Forum’ hosted by the Association to Promote Philippines – China Understanding (APCU) last April 14, 2023, Amb. Huang, expressed China’s concern that all the 4 new US bases in the country appears directed against China, three of them, in Isabela and Cagayan, just a “stone’s throw” away from Taiwan.

Taiwan is a part of China but their reunification is being blocked by the United States since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949.

“Obviously, the US intends to take advantage of the new EDCA sites to interfere in the situation across the Taiwan Strait to serve its geopolitical goals and advance its anti-China agenda at the expense of peace and development of the Philippines and the region at large,” he said.

But according to the NSC, “Secretary Año personally assured the Chinese Ambassador that the additional EDCA sites are not meant for offensive operations against China or for interference in the Taiwan issue but instead are meant to protect the territorial integrity of the country.”

Año also claimed the choice of new US bases was made by the AFP and “not dictated” by the US.

‘False accusations against China’

The effort by Pres. Marcos and NSA Año to reassure China was however overshadowed by the earlier pathetic performance by Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Department of National Defense Officer-in-Charge Carlito Galvez last April 11, 2023 during their meeting with their American superiors, US State Secretary Anthony Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, respectively.

“Pandering to forces outside the region will not bring greater security, but will cause tensions, put regional peace and stability at risk and eventually backfire” — Wang Wenbin, Spokesperson, Chinese Foreign Ministry

In the joint statement they released, they called on China to abide by the 2016 Hague Arbitral Award that invalidated most of China’s territorial claim in the South China—but failed to state what portion clearly belongs to the Philippines.

The statement said China must abide with the award because its text is “final and legally binding” between China and the Philippines, despite its being ‘awarded’ without the consent and participation of China, which had denounced the proceedings from the start.

At a press conference in Beijing on April 12, 2023, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, said China is “gravely concerned over and strongly disapproves the joint statement of the US and the Philippines.”

“China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands and the adjacent waters. The joint statement of the US and the Philippines misrepresents and discredits the legitimate and lawful maritime law enforcement activities of the Chinese side and even makes false accusations against China. We strongly oppose this.

“The so-called arbitral award on the South China Sea gravely violates international laws, including UNCLOS. The award is illegal, null and void. China’s position of not accepting or recognizing it is clear and firm,” he stressed.

Despite the harsh words, Wang signaled that China remains committed to resolving its territorial dispute with the Philippines thru diplomacy. “We stand ready to work with relevant countries to handle maritime disputes in a proper manner through negotiation and consultation, while resolutely protecting our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”

Wang also said China is not being fooled by the US and the Philippines’ claim that the American military build-up is not directed against the mainland.

“Facts speak louder than words. Judging from the locations of the new military bases, the intention behind those sites is more than obvious.

“The US and the Philippines have just added a footnote to their intention by stressing in the joint statement that they will “support swift operationalization of the four new sites.”

“It seems there is no need for China to provide any additional analysis or interpretation of that…

“We would like to once again remind the relevant country in the region (Philippines) that pandering to forces outside the region will not bring greater security, but will cause tensions, put regional peace and stability at risk and eventually backfire,” Wang said.