Gazmin : No need to rush agreement on US troops' presence

MANILA, Philippines - Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin sees no need to rush the signing of a deal on increased rotational presence of American troops in the country even as he maintained that the negotiations are going smoothly.

Gazmin could not say whether the signing of an agreement would coincide with the visit of United States (US) President Barack Obama to the Philippines in April.

“Let us not talk about IRP (increased rotational presence) yet. We might pre-empt it. The talks are running smoothly. We are talking about enhanced defense cooperation and the language (of the agreement),” he told reporters in Filipino Thursday.

“Why should we rush it (deal) if there are contentious points?” he added.

Gazmin, nevertheless, said the signing of a deal on US troops’ presence would be a good issue to tackle during Obama’s visit.

When asked what is keeping the US and Philippine panel from completing the agreement, Gazmin said: “The language and issues like how long they (American troops) will stay here.”

“It’s like they are haggling,” the defense chief added.

The Philippines and the US have agreed to adopt the increased rotational presence policy amid tensions caused by China’s aggressive maneuverings in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), the subject of a territorial row in the region.

Officials believe shoring up US presence will allow the Philippines to achieve what they called a minimum credible defense.

The two countries have completed five rounds of negotiations since August. The sixth round of talks will be held early next month.

The presence of US forces is a controversial issue in the Philippines, with militant groups claiming that a deal on increased rotational presence would trample upon the country’s sovereignty

The Senate voted to shut down the US bases in the country in 1991 but a visiting forces agreement allowing joint exercises between Filipino and American soldiers was ratified by the same body eight years later.

Philippine officials have repeatedly claimed that the negotiations on the IRP would strictly comply with the constitution and existing laws.

They also gave assurance that the US would not set up permanent bases in the country.

‘China should listen’

Meanwhile, Gazmin said China should listen to those who are expressing concerns over its actions in the West Philippine Sea.

“As our president said, might is not right. Right is might, not the other way around. We are right and that is where our strength lies,” the defense chief said.

He welcomed the support given to the Philippines’ decision to follow the rule of law in resolving the territorial dispute.

China claims almost the entire West Philippine Sea though the so-called nine dash line while the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims.

Last year, the Philippines challenged China’s territorial claims before an international tribunal of the United Nations. The Philippines said China’s nine-dash line is “exaggerated” and contrary to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

China has opposed efforts to bring the dispute before an international body and insisted that the row be settled through bilateral negotiations.

Despite the Philippines' protests, China continued to conduct maritime patrols in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, Recto (Reed) Bank and Panganiban (Mischief) Reef off Palawan and Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal off Zambales.