MANILA, Philippines – The legal issues surrounding the presence of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in Philippine waters are now moot since the vessel and its accompanying fleet will remain outside the country’s territorial waters.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said, “The United States government is sensitive about these matters that it does not even have to be told about what to do in these types of situations.”
“We don’t need to tell the US government what to do or what not to do. They’re in here precisely to coordinate with the Philippine Air Force and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. They’re very sensitive to our local laws and once their mission is done they go,” Teodoro said.
During a briefing of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) before dawn yesterday, President Arroyo noted that the Philippine Constitution Association has indicated that the USS Ronald Reagan can enter Philippine waters without violating the Constitution since its objective is to help the government carry out relief operations for the calamity brought about by typhoon “Frank.”
Teodoro said that the carrier fleet does not have to enter Philippine waters since its helicopters, which are being used to transport relief goods to the areas affected by the typhoon, can easily fly in and out of the country.
The Seahawk helicopters of the USS Reagan have already transported relief goods to the affected provinces.
“They’re transporting. The major mission of the USS Reagan is to help us logistically, to transport goods to the outlying areas,” Teodoro said.
The fleet left Hong Kong for the Philippines just as typhoon Frank was headed in that direction.
While President Arroyo was in Washington D.C. for a meeting with US President George W. Bush, the two leaders announced that the carrier fleet would head towards the Philippines to assist in the relief efforts of the Philippine government.
Teodoro said that the NDCC would determine how long the USS Reagan would continue providing assistance, but he indicated that the fleet would not stay too long.
“They have their own missions to do, and this is just help for the Philippines which we should be very thankful for,” he said.
US Ambassador Kristie Kenney also defended yesterday Washington’s decision to send its nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan to the Philippines to help in rescue operations for victims of typhoon Frank, saying the deployment is not a violation of the Philippine Constitution and the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).
Kenney allayed fears expressed by lawmakers that warships in the carrier battle group might be carrying nuclear weapons, which is prohibited by the Constitution.
When asked to comment on possible constitutional violations with regards to the deployment of the USS Ronald Reagan, Kenney said that no violation was committed.
“Absolutely not. Senators are completely welcome to question. That’s a great dialogue. And in fact, we reached out to clarify to many of them to make sure they understand,” Kenney said at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of new facilities at the US Embassy in Manila.
“As you know, of course all US ships are in complete and total coordination with the government of the Philippines and adhere at all times to US and Philippine constitutional rule and the treaty that we have here, the Mutual Defense Treaty,” she added.
Teodoro and Kenney’s statements came as a Bangkok-based think tank said that the United States is taking advantage of its global power-projection strategy in deploying its aircraft carrier to the Philippines under the pretext of wanting to help victims of typhoon Frank.
Focus on the Global South, an international policy research institute that has been following US military strategy in Asia, particularly in the Philippines, said the deployment was consistent with the apparent strategy of the US to secure its presence in areas near China, such as the Philippines.
In a statement issued over the weekend, Focus on the Global South researcher Herbert Docena said the deployment of a strike group with a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, a cruiser, three destroyers and a frigate with about 6,000 US troops was not for rescue but for power projection.
Docena said the same actions were done by the US when it sent 24 warships and over 100 aircraft to the Indian Ocean during the 2004 tsunami.
Hundreds of US troops were also deployed after the Guinsaugon, Leyte landslide, Docena said.
The Bangkok-based think tank added that “Pentagon has a standing policy of expanding its military presence around the world and compensating for their lack of physical military bases by sending its ships wherever they may be received and welcomed.” – With Pia Lee-Brago, Roel Pareño