EDITORIAL - Rebalancing

US President Barack Obama visits the Philippines for the first time today as the two countries redefine their relationship through a new defense cooperation arrangement.

The new scheme has been hammered out in line with America’s “rebalance” or pivot to Asia from conflict zones elsewhere in the world. The pivot is also being undertaken amid the dramatic rise of China as an economic powerhouse and its corresponding military muscle flexing.

Beijing’s bizarre claim to nearly all of the South China Sea has pushed its affected neighbors toward the only nation that can provide a counterbalance in the region: the United States. Except for the usual noisy rallies by a handful of anti-US protesters that anti-riot police obligingly break up with force, it looks like Filipinos are ready to accept an increased US military presence in this country.

That stronger presence should not lull the Philippines into relying heavily on Uncle Sam once again for external defense. As a US colony and host of America’s largest overseas bases, the Philippines did not bother developing its own defense capability. When the US security umbrella disappeared shortly after the bases were shut down in 1992, the Philippines could only look on helplessly as the Chinese began venturing way beyond their maritime economic zone and occupying islands and reefs belonging to their neighbors.

The US stays away from territorial disputes, saying only that it wants peaceful and rules-based resolution of conflicting claims. In recent months, Washington has said it is committed to defend its Asian allies. But America has its own interests to protect in dealing with China. Even as an agreement is signed for an increased rotational presence of US troops here, the Philippines must continue working to achieve its own credible defense capability. The last thing a sovereign nation should want is to revive  a colonial-era dependence on a big brother for its security requirements.