Talks on Australia’s participation ongoing
AMBASSADOR to Washington Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez yesterday said joint patrols between the Philippines and the United States in the West Philippine Sea could start in the third quarter of this year, a development that could infuriate China which has already expressed opposition to Manila’s move to grant US troops access to more military facilities under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
“We’re already in continuing discussions with the United States. I think not later than the third quarter, this quarter, we should be having this in place,” Romualdez said on CNN Philippines when asked for an update on the conduct of joint patrols between Manila and Washington.
He said discussions are also taking place between Manila and Canberra for Australia to participate in such patrols.
Romualdez previously cited Japan and Australia as among countries likely to join the Philippines and the US in the conduct of joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.
In March this year, Japanese media reported on a plan of Tokyo, Washington and Manila to set up a security framework amid growing concern about Chinese military activities in the South China Sea.
China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, waters within the Philippines’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
China still refuses to abide by the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration junking its sweeping claim in the South China Sea, and has been insisting on bilateral talks to address the dispute where experts said its economic and military might can be brought to bear pressure on other claimants.
The conduct of joint patrols was among the issues tackled in the 2+2 ministerial meeting in Washington between Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Defense Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez and their US counterparts, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin last month.
In a joint statement issued after the 2+2 ministerial meeting, they said both sides are now “finalizing plans for the resumption of combined maritime activities, including the conduct of joint sails by the US and Philippine navies, in the South China Sea.”
Meanwhile, a fact sheet released by the White House during a state visit of President Marcos Jr. last week stated that under deepening interoperability, the goal is to expand cooperation on maritime security and maritime domain awareness, including through the continued conduct of combined maritime activities, including but not limited to joint patrol.
Romualdez said the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between the US and the Philippines is now clearer following Marcos’ talk with US President Joe Biden.
“The US has clearly said that if any act is given to any part of the Philippines or a coast guard vessel, they will come to help the Philippines. The Mutual Defense Treaty is what President Marcos described as an evolving relationship,” he said.
“I think that this time, the Mutual Defense Treaty is not only clear but it also sets what are the parameters on how we will proceed in terms of invoking it,” he added.
Marcos earlier said there is a need to clarify the MDT due to the evolving security landscape and challenges in the region.
Romualdez also said relations between the US and the Philippines is now stronger than ever.
“Most importantly, I think we’ll be having a lot of economic activity from both of our countries,” he said.
Romualdez also said Marcos’ visit to the US was a “near perfect” one as everything they have planned for happened, despite some minor kinks.
“Just a few kinks here and there, a couple of meetings we wanted the President to make, but unfortunately it did not quite happen,” he said.
“We haven’t had a Philippine president come to Washington DC in over 10 years. We were very pleased that he was given a special welcome,” he added.
Malacañang earlier said the President’s visit racked up investment pledges aside from affirming closer ties between Manila and Washington.
It said Marcos was able to bring home over $1.3 billion, or over P72 billion, worth of investment pledges that have the potential to create about 6,700 new jobs for Filipinos.
‘WE HAVE FRIENDS’
The enhanced bilateral ties between Manila ang Washington, including the access by US troops to additional military sites under EDCA, three of which are located in the northern part of the country facing Taiwan, will annoy China, said Dr. Jay Batongbacal, associate professor at the University of the Philippines College of Law, adding the country can expect aggressive Chinese activities to convey their annoyance.
“We expect that China will be annoyed and they will continue to try to test our response but the message that we convey is that we have friends who will help us and this may slow down China’s aggressive acts,” he said in Filipino at the “Laging Handa” public briefing
He said EDCA will help boost the capability of the ill-equipped Philippine military, especially in external defense.
“This is good news as it is already long time coming since they were delayed by as much as five to six years in the previous administration,” he said.
The latest EDCA deals on access to additional military facilities for US troops underscore improved defense ties between Manila and Washington under Marcos, whose predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, had a prickly relationship with.
Duterte in his six-year team shifted Manila’s foreign policy away from Washington to pursue warmer ties with Moscow and Beijing, two of the US’ traditional rivals for influence in the region.
