US officials pledge to help Phl boost maritime security

MANILA, Philippines - The United States assured the Philippines that it will help boost its maritime security and surveillance in the disputed Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said today that the additional assurance from the US was conveyed by its defense officials to Secretary Albert del Rosario during a meeting at Pentagon in Washington D.C. on Friday.

The DFA said that among the officials who met with Del Rosario at the Pentagon was US Defense Secretary Robert Gates. The meeting was held after a joint press briefing between Del Rosario and US Secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

It said that Gates assured Del Rosario that the US is prepared to help the Philippines strengthen its capability in securing its maritime territory, particularly in the disputed Spratly Islands.

The DFA said that US National Director for Intelligence James Clapper also met with Del Rosario today and pledged to enhance his agency's intelligence sharing with the Philippines, which will heighten the country's maritime situational awareness and surveillance in the disputed territory.

It said that during the meeting, Del Rosario told US defense officials that to complement the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) which the US traditionally turns over to the Philippines, he is exploring an option to access "newer US military assets which the Philippines could acquire quicker but through a deliberate selection and, which hopefully, are more cost-effective."

US Defense Undersecretary for Policy Michelle Fluornoy answered in the affirmative, the DFA said.

The DFA said that according to Fluornoy, the US "would be happy to have our team look into the full range of (the Philippines') requirements (for maritime security)."

Fluornoy said that US will not allow the global perception that "you (the Philippines) are alone and we're not behind you."

During the joint press briefing, Clinton announced that the US will provide needed material and equipment that may be needed by the Philippine military to defend its territory, particularly in the West Philippine Sea, which is being disputed by China.

China and the Philippines are among the Asian countries claiming territorial ownership in the Spratly Islands. The other countries are Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and Brunei.

The Philippines and Vietnam have recently protested against China's alleged incursions in the disputed territory.

Meanwhile, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that China should not be upset of the US' possible intervention in the territorial dispute.

Clinton and other US officials have assured that it will comply with the Mutual Defense Treaty it signed with the Philippines.

Valte said that the US only shares the Philippines' call for a peaceful resolution of the dispute.

“It’s just an affirmation of commitment for peace and stability in the region. [Surely] it will not ruffle any feathers," Valte said in an interview on state-run Radyo ng Bayan.

In a related development, Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell told reporters Friday (Saturday in Manila) that the US did not intend to "fan the flames" and wants peace and stability maintained over the disputed territory.

Campbell clarified that the US does not take a stand on sovereignty issues and wants "recent tensions to subside and cooler heads to prevail."

Campbell will join a US delegation that will hold talks with China on the territorial dispute and other Asia-Pacific issues in Hawaii over the weekend. – with Associated Press and PNA