ShareThisBy CLAIRE MORALES TRUE
MANILA – The Philippine government has stepped up preparations for the working visit of US President Barack Obama on April 28 to 29 amidst growing tension with China over territorial claims in South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea.
Obama and President Benigno S. Aquino III are expected to discuss security, defense, economy, trade and people-to-people exchange in their meeting in Malacanang.
Obama’s visit will take place at a time the Philippines, is embroiled in tense maritime row with China, whose sprawling claims in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea eats into Manila’s territory.
Obama is expected to re-affirm US support for the Philippines and renew its commitments under a 1951 mutual defense treaty that it will defend Manila against aggression even in the South China Sea.
Speculations are that Obama will witness the signing of an agreement on increased rotational American soldiers in the Philippines. There are at least 10,000 US troops in Mndanao and the number could be expanded to 40,000.
This as US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the United States is ready to go to war against China to defend Japan, the Philippines and other allies in the region in accordance with America’s defense, security and military agreements with those countries.
“We have mutual self defense treaties with each of those two countries,” Hagel said in China, referring to Japan and the Philippines. “And we are fully committed to those treaty obligations.”
In another development, US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg renewed the United States’ commitment to standby the Philippines which he described as a long time ally during the Araw ng Kagitingan commemoration in Mt. Samat in Bataan.
“As treaty allies, when the Philippines faces threats or natural disasters, so do we,” Ambassador Goldberg stressed before government, military and diplomatic leaders and war veterans, mostly Filipinos.
Goldberg did not mention specific threats amid increasing tensions between the Philippines and China over overlapping territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
Goldberg explained that the shared “history of sacrifice” between Filipino and American troops during World War II “forges the special relationship” of the two countries.
“As shown in history and present until this very day, we can and will continue to work together shoulder to shoulder to improve each other’s militaries and our nations as a whole,” he said.
“Like soldiers walking side by side, our friendship is stronger through the adversity we have faced together,” Goldberg added.
Goldberg also praised the work of veterans for paving the way for the present-day peace being enjoyed by the people.
The gallantry of those who fought for our freedom all those years ago must never beforgotten. It is important that we take time today to honor their service and sacrifice,” he said.
“Today it’s remarkable that not just our two nations but three—the US, the Philippines, and Japan—have forged close and enduring friendships alliances and strategic partnerships based on democratic values and mutual respect that came from the blood and sacrifice of our soldiers,” Goldberg added.
US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel made his statement last week in Japan and China as he warned China against force, coercion or intimidation of its neighboring countries over disputed territorial claims.
Hagel visited the two countries ahead of US President Barack Obama’s tour of Asia, which starts on April 22 and will take him to Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines for his last stop.
It was reported that the visits was to underscore US determination to press ahead with its so-called “pivot” or “rebalance” to the region, which is focused on undermining China’s influence and militarily encircling it.
In Tokyo, Hagel told a joint press conference with Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera that China’s territorial claims was like Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
“You cannot go around the world and redefine boundaries and violate territorial integrity and the sovereignty of nations by force, coercion or intimidation, whether it’s in small islands in the Pacific or in large nations in Europe,” Hagel stressed.
In China, Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan, standing side-by-side with Hagel, called on the United States to restrain ally Japan and chided another U.S. ally, the Philippines.
Teams from the Philippines and US have reportedly finalized after several meetings in Manila, Washington and Hawaii the agreement that will increase a rotational presence of American troops to the Philippines and grant them, their equipment, naval vessels and aircraft access to Philippine military bases.
“It will be beneficial both to the Philippines and the United States,” Cuisia said.
The Philippines said a greater US presence will help the country build a minimum credible defense posture amid belligerent Chinese actions in the South China Sea, where Chinese government vessels encroach on areas within Manila’s exclusive economic zone that form part of the West Philippine Sea.
Obama will also be visiting Japan, South Korea, Malaysia ahead of the Philippines.
“It will be a working visit,” said Cuisia who was invited to speak before a dialogue with the Makati Business Club and Management Association of the Philippines in Makati City.
Obama’s schedule will be very tight and chances of him visiting the typhoon-ravaged Visayas region like what his Secretary of State John Kerry did in December last year will not take place.
“He has very limited time,”Cuisia said.
The US President, he added, will not be travelling with his wife, First Lady Michelle Obama, as well.
A Malacanang official, meanwhile, said there is no deadline for the signing of the U.S. troops increased rotational presence (IRP) agreement.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte raised the issue to dispel speculations that the government was rushing the agreement signing in time for U.S. President Obama’s visit to the Philippines.
“There is no deadline, because the instruction of (President Benigno S. Aquino III) is to make sure that everything is laid out well and nothing would be left out,” Valte said.
Valte said that according to Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino the draft provisions and the key points will be submitted for internal review for the Philippine side. Consultations will meanwhile, continue.
“This will have to be presented to the President before the next step, we will wait for that,” Valte said.
The Malacanang official also said that the panel is cognizant in making sure the agreement conforms to the concerns raised by President Aquino.
She said the agreement, according to the President, should conform with the 1987 Constitution and is under the framework of the existing Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
Meanwhile, she shrugged off speculations that the U.S. troops IRP was an action to step up to China’s aggressive actions towards claims to parts of the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
Malacanang said the visit of President Obama is an opportune time for the Philippines to further strengthen its ties with our ally.
“Ang nakatakdang pagdalaw ni Pangulong Barack Obama ay magsisilbing magandang pagkakataon para palakasin at gawing higit na matibay pa ang masinsin na pakikipag-ugnayan ng Pilipinas sa Estados Unidos,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said.
Coloma said the United States is a valuable partner of the Philippines in the field of defense and security, an economic, livelihood and business partner.
“Batid natin na ang Estados Unidos ang ating pangunahin at istratehikong partner sa larangan ng defense at security, at isa rin pong partner ng ating bansa sa larangan ng ekonomiya, kabuhayan, at negosyo,” Coloma noted.
He added that both Filipinos and Americans see that the visit will further boost friendship between the two countries.
“At maraming dekada na ang pakikipagkaibigan ng mga Pilipino at Amerikano kaya’t umaasa po tayo na ang darating na pagdalaw ni Pangulong Barack Obama ay higit pang magpapatibay at magpapalakas sa pagkakaibigan at pakikipag-ugnayan ng dalawang bansa sa isa’t isa,” Coloma said.