MANILA: The United States called for a peaceful resolution of overlapping claims in the South China Sea, including a request for rotational and expanded US presence in the Philippines, a senior US official said.
“We encourage nations to peacefully resolve their disputes to internationally accepted mechanisms and accordance with international law, including the Law of the Sea and without coercion,” US Defense Secretary Pentagon Chuck Hagel said in a press conference, following a courtesy call on President Benigno Aquino in Malacañang, the presidential palace, yesterday.
The US supports Philippines’ peaceful means to solve its dispute with China over the disputed claims in the South China Sea, said Hagel,
The 10-member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) should pursue negotiations with China to create a code of conduct of claimants in the South China Sea, which was signed by China and Asean in 2002, to make it more legally binding, said Hagel, adding that the regional block and not just the claimants should help in the peaceful resolution of the issue.
“The world is interconnected and all powers must develop relationships and get along with each other for their own economic development, stability, security and peace,” said Hagel, adding that China understands this concept.
Resolving the overlapping claims in the South China Sea peacefully is for the sake of growth in the region, said Hagel, adding, “You cannot have growth, development, and possibilities for the future and your children without stability, without security, without resolving disputes.”
The South China Sea is claimed wholly by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; and in parts by Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Four of the six claimants are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
Stating the objective of his Manila visit, Hagel said, “The United States does not seek permanent bases in the Philippines. That would represent a return to an outdated cold war mentality.”
The US is “looking to increase rotational presence” in the Philippines, a military arrangement similar to what were forged in Australia and Singapore, said Hagel, adding, ”Such an arrangement would benefit both our military by increasing our ability to train and operate together. Deepening engagement opportunities between our forces will further support President Aquino’s defense modernisation agenda.”
“The United States has a great deal of experience in building a modern military and we would like to share what we’ve learned with our Filipino allies,” Hagel promised.
The agreement would allow access of US troops, warships, and other war materiel to Subic, Clark and other facilities, explained Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, with whom Hagel held a meeting following his courtesy call with President Aquino.
The two countries have already drafted a framework agreement on the said proposals, details of which are being firmed up by negotiators starting from August 14.
The proposed military agreement is meant to strengthen the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty that was signed in 1958.
The Philippine Senate rejected in 1991, the US-proposed 10-year extension of the now defunct US-Philippines Military Bases Agreement, the basis of the hosting of two large US overseas war facilities, the former US Naval base in Subic Olongapo, Zambales and the former US Clark Air Base in Angeles City, both in central Luzon.
In 1999, the Philippine Senate ratified the US-Philippine Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) which became the basis of large joint war games between the US and Philippine Armed Forces, since early 2000.
