EDITORIAL - A maturing relationship

No final deal was hammered out last week on the planned increase in US military presence in the Philippines. The plan calls for the development of facilities to accommodate an increased “rotational presence” of US troops. This is in line with the ongoing US “pivot” to the Asia-Pacific. The pivot coincides with China’s increasing aggressiveness in staking its territorial claim over waters around it including nearly the entire South China Sea.

The Philippines, with one of the weakest armies in the region and battling insurgencies in several areas, has been hard-pressed to contain Chinese incursions into Philippine-claimed waters along its western seaboard. One controversial tack for Manila is seeking United Nations arbitration to define its maritime entitlements under international rules. At the same time, the country is strengthening its military capability, with help from its traditional allies led by the United States.

In Australia, Philippine forces are holding joining training exercises under the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, a fairly new deal requiring ratification by the two countries’ legislatures. The SOVFA with Australia stands out for its clearly defined reciprocity provisions – something that needs fine-tuning in the Philippines’ older and broader VFA under the Mutual Defense Treaty with the Americans.

In recent months, Philippine and US forces have conducted joint exercises in disputed waters, notably around Panatag or Scarborough Shoal, a traditional fishing ground for residents of Zambales that was the scene of a standoff earlier this year between Filipino and Chinese authorities.

With the Philippines reviving its strong military ties with the US, there are concerns about the weakening of national sovereignty and falling under the dictates of Washington. US officials have said bilateral ties with their former colony have evolved and matured, with Washington preferring to stay away from Philippine internal affairs after a long history of wielding influence in politics and economic matters. For both countries, the conditions for the increased rotational presence will serve as the test of this maturity.