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SITUATIONER

National Defense Sector


01-05 July 2013
RODO!O D" ENA#E$ JR"
%is&ana'in' t(e nation)s forei'n *olicy
President Aquino is tying himself up into knots in handling the
countrys dispute with China over parts of the South China Sea.
There are clear signs of President Noynoy Aquinos increasingly
inconsistent, if not inept, management of our countrys foreign
policy, especially in dealing with an ever-more aggressive China.
e is tying himself into !nots in the handling the countrys
dispute with China over islands, islets, shoals and reefs in the
"est Philippine #ea or what the Chinese claim to $e parts of the
#outh China #ea.
%oreign A&airs #ecretary Al$ert del 'osario has already elevated
the territorial dispute for ar$itration $y the (nternational Tri$unal
on the )aw of the #ea of the *nited Nations. +ut, ine,plica$ly
-efense #ecretary .oltaire /a0min has $oldly announced that the
country is $uilding up its defense capa$ilities in the face of
1$ullying $y an oppressive2 and forming alliances with other
friendly and sympathetic countries.
The 3rst move $y #ecretary -el 'osario was most certainly the
right and peaceful way to settle the dispute with China, although
+ei4ing prefers to negotiate $ilaterally with the Philippines, as well
as with the other claimants li!e .ietnam, +runei, 5alaysia, and
(ndonesia, all mem$ers of the Association of #outheast Asian
Nations. +ut the second move $y #ecretary /a0min could very
well $e misconstrued as a !ind of 1sa$er-rattling2 which
contradicts the friendly gesture of the 3rst move made $y -el
'osario.
No dou$t on instructions of the President, /a0min has pu$licly
announced that the government is strengthening its military
defense capa$ilities, including whats termed as 1rotational
presence2 of *# troops in #u$ic +ay, which used to $e an
American naval $ase, and in Cagayan de 6ro, as well as $uilding
up military ties not only with the *#, $ut also with 7apan, another
American ally.
Although 5alaca8ang has assured that these plans of giving
access to military $ases are not intended to antagoni0e China,
the foreign ministry in +ei4ing has reacted adversely. (t read these
moves as 1intentionally playing up tensions in the region2 and
warned of a potential 1counter-stri!e2 against the Philippines.
A warning of di&erent nature was also voiced $y Philippine
legislators. They said the plan for greater *# presence in the
country would raise constitutional questions, especially if it would
involve esta$lishing new military facilities for use $y American
forces.
As #enate President 7uan Ponce 9nrile put it, the :;<=
Constitution strictly prohi$its the esta$lishment of any foreign
military $ases in the country. 6ther senators also said that the
Palace should 3rst consult the #enate $efore pushing through
with its plan. And some mem$ers of the ouse of 'epresentatives
warned not only against allowing unlimited foreign military $asing
in the country, $ut also the ongoing *#- Philippine military
e,ercises in the vicinity of the Panatag #hoal, one of the disputed
areas in the "est Philippine #ea, which would raised the tensions
in the area.
+y the way, the ceremonies launching the war games or 4oint
military e,ercises, du$$ed 1Cooperation A>oat 'eadiness and
Training2 ?CA'AT@, were held last wee! in a function hall named
1+ei4ing 'oom2 of a Chinese restaurant in #u$ic, which may not
$e found amusing $y some military and political quarters in
+ei4ing, China. AAA
The #outh China #ea dispute is no longer a con>ict $etween
China and some mem$ers of the Asean, Asian a&airs o$servers
noted. The issue has $een internationali0ed $ecause of the
increased interest $y other great powers in the sea lin!s across
the #outh China #ea.
The tensions in the area, which have $een on the rise since BCC;,
have prevented free navigation in the #outh China #ea, which is a
vital trade route not 4ust for China $ut also 7apan, (ndia, the
#outheast Asian countries, and the *#
As long as those involved in the issue continue to $e motivated
$y nationalist rhetoric and unwilling to compromise sovereignty
claims and competition over access to maritime resources,
theres little chance that the trend will $e reversed any time
soon. China, for instance, has always insisted that the disputes in
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the area should $e handled $ilaterally, not only with the
Philippines $ut also with each of the other claimant #outheast
Asian nations.
5eanwhile, with all the heated ver$al e,changes $etween 5anila
and +ei4ing going on, theres good news that could, possi$ly, put
an end to their word war over their territorial disputes in the
#outh China. The 3ve-mem$er (nternational Tri$unal on the )aw
of the #ea ?(T)6#@ has $een formed to hear the Philippines
complaint against China. A new president of the (T)6#, /hanaian
7udge Thomas 5ensah, has replaced #ri )an!an Chris Pinto, who
resigned to avoid potential accusations of con>ict of interest
$ecause hes married to a %ilipina.
The other four 4udges of the ar$itral (T)6# are 'udiger "olfrum of
/ermany, #tanislav Pawia! of Poland, 7ean-Pierre Cot of %rance
and Alfred #oons of The Netherlands. 5ensah and these four
4udges will determine whether the ar$itral tri$unal can acquire
4urisdiction over the Philippine case and proceed to loo! into the
territorial dispute over the islands, shoals and reefs in the #outh
China #ea over which China claims to have 1indisputa$le
sovereignty.2
The disputed areas are among the possi$le >ashpoints in the
#outh China #ea that can $e avoided through ar$itration $y the
(T)6# of the *nited Nations. opefully, this peaceful means would
serve as a reminder to China that it is o$ligated under
international law to pursue a peaceful resolution of disputes,
instead of using force or threat to use force.
#6*'C9D httpDEEwww.malaya.com.phEinde,.phpEcolumn-of-the-
dayEFG;C:-mismanaging-the-nations-foreign-policy
Pu$lished on Tuesday, CB 7uly BC:F CCDCC
"ritten $y N9#T6' 5ATA
+,ases access to co&*ly -it( .onstitution$ /!A)
5AN()A, Philippines - Any move $y the Philippines to give its
allies H particularly the *nited #tates and 7apan H access to its
military $ases will $e in accordance with the Constitution and the
.isiting %orces Agreement ?.%A@, deputy presidential
spo!esperson A$igail .alte said yesterday.
(n an interview over state-run radio station d0'+, .alte also said
the -epartment of National -efense is still 3nali0ing details of
plans for increased 1rotational presence2 of *# forces in the
country under the .%A.
3 3
6n %riday, -efense #ecretary .oltaire /a0min voiced the need for
the country to strengthen its military partnerships with its allies
to counter Chinas 1$ullying2 in the "est Philippine #ea.
An enhanced cooperation should include allowing allies access to
air and naval facilities in the country, he said.
6n the same day, .alte clari3ed that President Aquino had not yet
approved the plan.
(n her radio interview yesterday, .alte said the Palace is open to
having discussions with senators and other lawma!ers to allay
their fears that the planned $ases access agreement might $e
unconstitutional.
16f course, we are open to their concerns. "e also understand
their concerns, which is why we are open to having these
discussions,2 .alte said.
.alte said the government would see to it that whatever
arrangement is adopted to open the countrys $ases to allies
would $e in accordance with the Constitution.
/a0min earlier emphasi0ed that an enhanced military
cooperation with allies would not involve the setting up of new
$ases $ecause of a constitutional prohi$ition.
The Philippines and the *# discussed the access agreement
during a ministerial consultation in "ashington last year, he said.
(f given greater access to Philippine air and naval facilities, *#
warships would $e a$le to launch security operations in the "est
Philippine #ea more freely, according to the defense chief.
.alte defended the plan, saying the country has the right to do
whatever it sees necessary in its territory. #he added the latest
initiative was not meant to antagoni0e +ei4ing.
9,planation satisfactory
"hile the proposed access arrangement has spar!ed worries
among some lawma!ers, #en. )oren )egarda said there is no
need for the #enate to get involved in the issue, as e,ecutive
oIcials have so far satisfactorily e,plained the parameters of the
plan.
1The .%A will continue to $e enforced to ensure that *# military
presence remains within the $ounds of the .%A framewor!. The
same is true with other countries where we have e,isting #tatus
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of .isiting %orces Agreements already rati3ed $y the #enate,2
said )egarda, chair of the #enate committee on foreign relations.
1As it is there are 4oint e,ercises and initiatives, and to a certain
e,tent, access to our facilities is allowed $ut according to well-
de3ned terms. *nder this scenario, there is no need for renewed
#enate approval,2 she added.
#enators Pan3lo )acson and .icente #otto ((( have advised
e,ecutive oIcials to consult the #enate on the matter as a
matter of courtesy.
#en. 7uan Ponce 9nrile said such an arrangement may $e a
violation of the Constitution as well as of provisions of the .%A.
All treaties and international agreements have to go through the
#enate for rati3cation under Philippine laws. The #enate oversight
committee on the .%A is empowered to review whatever issues
come up in relation to the deal.
1.%A does not provide for the presence of any foreign military
$ases,2 9nrile said.
1Temporary or whatever term they use H no military $ases. (f it
assumes a certain degree of permanence or sta$ility, then its no
longer visiting forces,2 he added.
+ut )egarda said access is allowed under the .%A.
1The -epartment of National -efense and the Armed %orces are
pursuing a moderni0ation program as part of e&orts to strengthen
our defense capa$ilities,2 )egarda said.
1Allowing access to *# military forces to our $ases may $e done
$ut strictly under the purview of the .isiting %orces Agreement,2
she added.
Another lawma!er, Para8aque City 'ep. 'oilo /ole0, said he is
strongly in favor of plans to allow the *# and 7apan to use the
countrys military facilities. e said such a privilege should also
$e e,tended to other friendly countries.
/ole0, a former national security adviser, said war assets li!e
ships and planes of (ndia, (ndonesia, 5alaysia, and .ietnam
should also $e given access to Philippine military $ases for the
purpose of re-fueling, rest and recreation, replenishment of
provisions and other purposes.
1Access is a normal gesture of one ally to another, in the same
way that our newly-acquired converted cutter, the +'P 'amon
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Alcara0, is now doc!ed in #an -iego, California en route to the
Philippines,2 /ole0 said.
1Alliances are also very normal sovereign acts of independent
countries, $ig or small, strong or wea!, and these acts do not
diminish, $ut even strengthen, ones sovereignty,2 he said.
e cited alliances entered into $y then super power /reat +ritain
in the :;th century to confront %rance.
e said even Chinese navy ships conduct regular port visits to #ri
)an!a, Pa!istan and the 5aldives as part of +ei4ings so-called
1string of pearls2 strategy in the (ndian 6cean, apparently to
e,tend its navys in>uence up to the orn of Africa.
1( say we ignore the pronouncements of the leftist militant groups
who re>e,ively o$4ect to the presence of military assets from the
*#, $ut are curiously silent a$out the permanent presence of
Chinese troops and warships in the 5ischief 'eef within our
e,clusive economic 0one and their sei0ure of the Panatag #hoal,2
/ole0 said.
+ut he said, 1Their voices should $e respected as part of the
necessary democratic de$ate.2 0 1it( #aolo Ro&ero$ %ar2in
Sy
#6*'C9D
httpDEEwww.philstar.comEheadlinesEBC:FECJEFCE;K;<:FE$ases-
access-comply-constitution-vfa
+y Aurea Calica ?The Philippine #tar@ L *pdated 7une FC, BC:F -
:BDCCam
3a4&in is *at(etic
This is not ust any wimp of a !ureaucrat talking. "e is the
S#C$#TA$% &' (AT)&(A* +#'#(S#,
N9.9' have ( felt so dismayed reading the statements of -efense
#ecretary .oltaire /a0min 4ustifying his plan to allow American
and 7apanese military access to military facilities in the
Philippines to deter Chinas aggressive moves in the #outh China
#ea .
Newspaper reports quoted /a0min as sayingD 1"e cannot stand
alone. "e need allies. (f we do not ?see! allies@, we will $e $ullied
$y $igger forces and that is what is happening now. China is
already there, staying in our territory.2
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/a0min must $e referring to the situation in +a4o de 5asinloc,
also !nown as #car$orough #hoal or Panatag, o& Mam$ales which
has not $een accessi$le to %ilipino 3shermen since April BC:B and
5ischief 'eef in the #pratlys , which China occupied in :;;K.
(t is feared that China would ta!e over Ayungin #hoal, some BK
miles away from 5ischief 'eef.
/a0min further saidD 1"hat will we doN "e cannot attac!. "e are
4ust going after them in court. +ut in spite of that, they are still
there. They do not want to leave. #o what will we doN #hould we
4ust wait until they are at our very doorstepN They are already in
our garage, rightN2
This is not 4ust any wimp of a $ureaucrat tal!ing. e is the
#9C'9TA'O 6% NAT(6NA) -9%9N#9P
/a0min heads the department responsi$le for guarding against
e,ternal and internal threats to peace and security in the country.
(s it any surprise that Chinas Peoples -aily responded with a
re$u!eD 1The Philippines, !nowing that its wea!, $elieves that Qa
crying child will have mil! to drin!.2
Chinas re$u!e hurts, of course. +ut what cuts deeper is /a0mins
pathetic stance. is solution is even something to $e concerned
a$out $ecause constitutional and sovereignty questions.
Also, how sure is /a0min that the Americans will come to the
rescue of the Philippines in case of hostilities against China in the
#outh China #eaN
The Americans have always issued strong statements against
Chinas aggressive moves in the #outh China #ea and their new
policy of re-$alancing would move JC percent of their Navys >eet
to the Paci3c $y BCBC $ut it is dou$tful if it would want to $e
actively involved in a war against China in defense of the
Philippines.
(n fact, early this month in +ang!o!, Admiral #amuel )oc!lear,
commander of the *# Paci3c Command, after saying the usual
line that the *# will not allow any change of the status quo $y
force, advised parties in the #outh China #ea con>ict to
compromise. e said the *# would not ta!e sides and stressed
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the importance of a code of conduct that would govern activities
in the #outh China #ea.
Those who have the illusion that the *# will come to the rescue of
the Philippines against China cling to the :;K: 5utual -efense
Treaty which states that 19ach Party recogni0es that an armed
attac! in the Paci3c Area on either of the Parties would $e
dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would
act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its
constitutional processes.2
1Rin accordance with its constitutional processes2 means even if
President 6$ama wants to send troops to help the Philippines, he
would need approval from *# Congress. That would involve
de$ates and ta!e months.
+y the time the Americans decide, the Chinese must have sun!
whatever is left of the Philippine Navy ships.
Also, as we as! *# and 7apan to help us against China, the
Philippines as!s China for a favor to save a convicted %ilipina drug
courier. China snu$$ed the request and said they had no time to
receive .ice President 7e4omar +inay, who was supposed to
personally convey the Presidents appeal.
Ano $a naman tayoN
#6*'C9D httpDEEwww.malaya.com.phEinde,.phpEopinionEFG=JC-
ga0min-is-pathetic
Pu$lished on 5onday, C: 7uly BC:F CCDCC
"ritten $y 9))9N T6'-9#())A#
A5uino 6ac7s 6ases access
Says no permanent presence planned
P'9#(-9NT Aquino yesterday defended the proposed grant of
access to the countrys $ases to Philippine allies li!e the *nited
#tates and 7apan, saying it would 4ust $e temporary and is
necessary to familiari0e foreign troops with local topography.
The President, in an interview at the sidelines of the ceremonial
turnover of the /loc! := pistols to Philippine National Police in
Camp Crame, said access to the $ases is necessary for more
coordinated 4oint training e,ercises.
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Aquino also said that granting access would not mean that the
presence of American and 7apanese soldiers would $e permanent
in the countrys $ases.
1Sung hindi tayo ma!i!ipag-ugnayan sa !anila at mag-aayos ng
mga sistema, !ung sa!aling may gulo na is palagay !o maling
paghahanda iyon, walang paghahanda iyon. #o !ailangan nila ng
may !nowledge na rin noong ating terrain, !ailangan rin naman
natin iyung inter-opera$ility with them,2 he said.
1indi naman siguro pwedeng magpa-practice tayo outside of our
territory, ano. #o it is $ut the natural circumstance of, if you want
a credi$le alliance, then you will have to have mutual training
and that will normally occur within our territory or the allies
territory,2 he added.
-efense #ecretary .oltaire /a0min last wee! said the access
agreement for *# and 7apanese forces as well as other allies is
still $eing prepared.
5ilitant groups li!e +ayan 5una and /a$riela have opposed the
proposed grant of access to the *# and 7apan, which they said is
a $etrayal of the removal of the *# $ases in :;;:, and an insult
to the veterans and comfort women that su&ered during "orld
"ar ((.
China through its %oreign 5inister "ang Oi said the access is an
attempt of the Philippines to reinforce its 1poor claims2 in the
#outh China #ea with the help of e,ternal forces.
Aquino reiterated that the Philippines renounces war as a policy
and that it is determined to pursue an accepta$le solution to the
territorial dispute through diplomatic and peaceful means.
A!$ayan party-list 'ep. "alden +ello said China is 1acting and
tal!ing li!e a rogue state2 instead of a superpower that should
1treat its neigh$ors with civility and respect.2
1(ssuing threats is the wor! of rogue states li!e North Sorea, not
of a country which is claiming to $e the ne,t geopolitical
powerhouse,2 he said.
Chinas state media warned on #aturday that a 1counterstri!e2
against the Philippines was inevita$le if it continues to provo!e
9 9
+ei4ing in the #outh China #ea, potentially Asias $iggest military
trou$le spot.
The warning came as ministers from China and the Association of
#outheast Asian Nations ?Asean@ met in +runei starting #aturday,
in the hopes of reaching a legally $inding code of conduct to
manage maritime conduct in disputed areas.
+ello called the threat 1utter lunacy,2 adding that %ilipinos will
respond to such threats with $older civil-political actions.
e said that if China threatens the Philippines with a military
stri!e, 1then we will respond with a glo$al day of action against
threats of aggression.2
1The only potent weapon we can use is democratic action from
an active and militant citi0enry. They $etter $race for protests in
front of their em$assies and consular oIces this 7uly BGth,2 he
warned.
(t was reported that the overseas edition of the Peoples -aily
said in a front-page commentary that the Philippines had
committed 1seven sins2 which include the alleged illegal
occupation of the #pratly (slands, inviting foreign capital to
engage in oil and gas development in the disputed waters, and
promoting the 1internationali0ation2 of the waters.
+ello said it was China that committed the 1original sin2 $y
illegally occupying Philippine waters and territory.
1The Chinese government is delusional for alleging that the
Philippines committed these Qseven sins. The responsi$ility for
this con>ict falls squarely on the Chinese government for
$ra0enly occupying our territory and ransac!ing our marine
resources,2 he said.
The militant group +agong Alyansang 5a!a$ayan as!ed the
#upreme Court to issue a temporary environmental protection
orders stopping the ongoing *# military e,ercises and port calls
of its warships in the country.
+ayan spo!esman 'enato 'eyes said the unlimited access $eing
given to the warships, without any clear environmental
guidelines, reveals the fatal pro$lems of the .isiting %orces
Agreement.
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(n its urgent motion, the group insisted that the high court should
issue a writ of !ali!asan in the wa!e of the grounding of the *##
/uardian at the Tu$$ataha 'eef last 7anuary so that a repeat of
that incident could $e avoided.
The group also said military maritime activities pose 1heightened
ris! of marine trauma2 not only in the Tu$$ataha 'eef $ut also in
other $iodiversity hotspots in the Philippines. With Wendell
Vigilia and Evangeline de Vera
#6*'C9D
httpDEEwww.malaya.com.phEinde,.phpEnewsEnationEFKCKF-
aquino-$ac!s-$ases-access
Pu$lished on "ednesday, CF 7uly BC:F CCDCC -"ritten $y 76C9)ON
56NT95AO6'
.(ina !% in2ite8 to 2isit #9
Del Rosario wants relations to move
%T9' their reported 1testy2 e,change at the Asean %oreign
5inisters 5eeting in +runei, %oreign A&airs #ecretary Al$ert del
'osario is now inviting Chinese %oreign 5inister "ang Oi to visit
5anila.
%oreign A&airs spo!esman 'aul ernande0 said -el 'osario
invited his Chinese counterpart to come to 5anila so that they
could have a 1constructive discussion on how to move $ilateral
relations forward.2
1e indicated that it is time to do this $ecause he has $een in
+ei4ing three times since he $ecame a foreign minister $ut there
has $een no visit from the Chinese foreign minister,2 he recalled
-el 'osario as saying.
The invitation comes after it was reported that -el 'osario and
"ang had a heated e,change during one of the closed-door
meetings held at the sidelines of the Asean forum in +runei.
ernande0 said -el 'osario did not deny that the incident
happened $ut would not want to provide additional details.
The -epartment of %oreign A&airs welcomed reports of China
3nally agreeing to hold consultations with Asean countries on the
adoption of a Code of Conduct in the #outh China #ea.
11 1
ernande0 said the reported concurrence $y China is what the
country has long $een as!ing for, $elieving it to $e the $est way
to settle prevailing disputes in the area.
6utgoing #en. 9dgardo Angara said temporary $asing of the *#
military in the Philippines is within the $ounds of the .isiting
%orces Agreement $etween the *# and the Philippines $ut
Congress, which provides funding for the e,ecutive department,
has oversight functions and has a right to as! the Palace to
provide it with quarterly reports.
The .%A has $een invo!ed whenever the *# and Philippine
defense forces conduct 4oint e,ercises in the country. (t has $een
staged to enhance the defense capa$ility of the Philippines and
the moderni0ation of its war materiel.
1The Philippine military is undergoing moderni0ation. 5odern can
get e&ective. Oou cannot get e&ective militarily up to standards
unless you do e,ercises with e,perienced militaries,2 Angara said.
e said temporary access to the countrys military $ases should
$e allowed $ecause of the changing political situation.
16ur political situation has drastically changedR especially in our
neigh$orhood, the territorial con>icts are drastically increasing
every other month. The security groupings are changing every
year. ( thin! theres enough 4usti3cation for providing our
economic and security allies access to our military $ases,2 he
said.
e said such arrangement does not need #enate rati3cation
1$ecause they are not concluding any treaty or international
agreement. (f there is an international agreement, it must get the
#enate concurrence.2
Neophyte #en. 7. 94ercito 9strada said the .%A should $e
reviewed to determine its $ene3ts.
1#a a!in, we have to review pro$a$ly the .%A !ung ito ay may
$enepisyo sa atin !asi parang nasu$u!an na natin noong isang
taon at the height of the con>ict with China, and now with
Taiwan, parang noong nag!aroon ng girian, hindi naman natin
naramdaman ang suporta ng +ig +rother,2 9strada said.
12 1
16ne of the provisions or conditions of the .%A is that if one ally is
in con>ict with others, the other one would support. #a a!in
parang hindi natin naramdaman ang suporta na yon noong tayoy
!asalu!uyang $inu$ully ng China. #o !ailangan i-review,2 he
said. With JP Lopez
#6*'C9D
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