Inside Philippine politics & beyond

US agrees not to bring in nukes into the Philippines

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By Raïssa Robles

Manila and Washington are CLOSE to signing an agreement that will see more American troops, more planes and warships but no nukes coming into the Philippines in what both sides euphemistically call “expanded military presence.”

Today, after the eighth round of negotiations –  a far cry from the acrimonious talks that were held in the 1990s to renew the presence of US military bases – both sides agreed to “key points.”

A press release issued by the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) includes a commitment by the Americans not to bring nuclear weapons into Philippine territory. It also summarized the following key points:

The draft agreement, which is anchored on mutuality of benefits, states that United States access to and use of Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) facilities and areas will be “at the invitation of the Philippines and with full respect for the Philippine Constitution and Philippine laws.”

In addition, in compliance with the Philippine Constitution, the agreement will also state the understanding of both sides for the United States “not to establish a permanent military presence or base in the territory of the Philippines.”

Furthermore, the United States has agreed that any equipment and materiél that the US military may bring into the country “shall not include nuclear weapons.”

The agreement will have robust provisions on protection of the environment, human health and safety.

No press conference was held following the talks.

Neither side said how long the expanded rotational presence agreement is good for.

Or if problems over jurisdiction of criminal offenses committed by American soldiers – that surfaced with the Visiting Forces Agreement – will be clarified by this agreement.

The agreement will come into effect during the years when predictions on China are quite mixed. Some quarters believe China will grow even bigger than the US economically and will dominate Asia politically and economically. While other quarters claim its growth will sputter due to a troubled economy and the China dream will remain just that.

In any case, the Philippines it seems has decided to throw its lot once more with the US in the belief that this is a far better choice than just giving up its islands in the West Philippine Sea without a fight. Is this the Bataan syndrome all over again?

The strengthening of US-Philippine alliance comes 72 years after both suffered a crushing defeat in the hands of Japanese forces. On April 9, 1942, US Major General Edward King met with Japanese Major General Kameichiro Nagano to negotiate surrender. Books that have been written on the Fall of Bataan and the ensuing Death March have glossed over the fact that the defenders, the prisoners of war and the fatalities in that horrible march consisted mainly of Filipinos.

China has recently and repeatedly warned the Philippines not to be a pawn of the US or its  proxy sub-state. But China, according to my sources, has also given NO assurance it will not gobble up Scarborough Shoal or any other part of Philippine territory.

And so the Philippines is literally caught between the rocks and the South China Sea.

Below is the press release of the DND. I would like to thank my colleague in FOCAP (Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines) for the copy:

MANILA, PHILIPPINES 11 April 2014 The Philippines and the United States Negotiating Panels concluded the eight round of negotiations here for a proposed agreement on enhanced defense cooperation, with both sides finding consensus on key points of a draft agreement.

Defense Undersecretary and Chair of the Philippine Negotiating Panel Pio Lorenzo Batino described the latest round of discussions as “very productive” and cited consensus on key provisions and modalities that would reflect, among others, full respect for Philippine sovereignty, non-permanence of US troops and no US military basing in the Philippines and a prohibition against weapons of mass destruction.

President Benigno S. Aquino earlier instructed the Philippine Panel to comply with and keep within relevant provisions of the Philippine Constitution and laws.

The draft agreement, which is anchored on mutuality of benefits, states that United States access to and use of Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) facilities and areas will be “at the invitation of the Philippines and with full respect for the Philippine Constitution and Philippine laws.”

In addition, in compliance with the Philippine Constitution, the agreement will also state the understanding of both sides for the United States “not to establish a permanent military presence or base in the territory of the Philippines.”

Furthermore, the United States has agreed that any equipment and materiél that the US military may bring into the country “shall not include nuclear weapons.”

The agreement will have robust provisions on protection of the environment, human health and safety.

“This round brought us much closer to finding full consensus, and the draft provisions on key points of an enhanced defense cooperation will be submitted to the President for his review,” said Undersecretary Batino.

For her part, member of the Philippine panel Ambassador Lourdes Yparraguirre, pointed out that the Philippines-United States alliance “”continues to be and must remain relevant”” and that in the framework of a dynamic and changing regional architecture, “”our only option is to make our alliance stronger if we are to maintain international and regional security.””

Stating that the agreement is “a step towards realizing that objective,” Ambassador Yparraguirre said that “as we strive to further enhance our security cooperation, we are looking into new dimensions of significant strategic and operational value.” She also cited potential economic benefits from the agreement resulting from multiplier effects of joint activities under the proposed agreement.

Undersecretary Batino emphasized that the proposed agreement would provide significant benefits to the Philippines, notably critical and timely support to the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, achievement of the country’s minimum credible defense posture, more expeditious humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), and the provision of jobs and other economic opportunities through the local goods and supplies procurement that will be made by the United States military.

“Both the Philippines and the United States recognize these are valuable dimensions to this updated framework of cooperation, and we are working together for the realization of the full potentials of this closer defense partnership,” pointed out Ambassador Yparraguirre.
Highlighting the “maturing relations” between the two allies, Ambassador Yparraguirre said that the agreement being negotiated contemplates a “new model of security engagement” for both the Philippines and the United States.

“After 15 years of the Visiting Forces Agreement and given current realities, challenges and opportunities, the Philippines is ready for a heightened level of defense cooperation. This agreement – which should stand on mutual trust – is an idea whose time has come,” also stressed Undersecretary Batino.

The other members of the Philippine Negotiating Panel are Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya, DOJ Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III and DND Assistant Secretary for Strategic Assessments Raymund Jose Quilop.

Comments

    • I dont know about that, vander. PNoy is still single and not married to a woman na sobrang yabang at gastadora addicted to shoppping, mamimili ng alahas, sapatos at designer gowns by the dozen. he is not a pretend 2nd world war hero with fake medals to boot. he is also childless. and with no children to provide for, no need for him to kupit from the kaban ng bayan. he can survive on his own pay and maybe pension later in life.

      • @moonie,
        agree 100%.
        to me, for me, there is no other greater crime than plundering the people’s tax/money.
        and we all know who they are.
        i always and will forever give due credit to pnoy for not touching the crooked path taken by his predecessors
        his trusted men might be at times getting off his line.
        we can only say na maari sigurong meron nga. pero isa pa ring tanong iyon?
        hindi naman kaila sa lahat na naging norm na ang SOP sa bawat deal o project..
        to cheat or not to cheat is within a person’s preference himself.
        as we can read in the book, even our creator was defied by the first couple on earth,

        • China is a luxurious milking cow for a corrupt Philippine president…of course, in exchange of our sovereign territories and the like.

          How tempting to be to have millions or even billion of dollars dangling before one’s eyes.

          drill down comment at 14 is poorly described and offered multitude of meanings.

  3. hi raissa,
    i hope you can write an investigative report on whatever happened since PDAF was abolished. i believe that the people, as I am, are curious to know if the abolition of PDAF did anything positive for the country and whether it has lessened corruption in government. this could potentially be good news.

    just my thoughts,
    joel

      • It has minimized, not totally eradicate, graft and corruption with the change of nomenclature from PDAF to DAP. Who among the legislature want to follow the footsteps of the 3 senatongs and others?

    • a weak and faltering china a cause for concern? true. we might come around and give china a good punch on the chin and kick on its stomach. neighbouring countries like india, south korea, japan, and vietnam would have liked to do the same. and let the demented imperial dragon be mired in its own filth and polution, its skyline a smog.

      gordon chang sounded like china is heavily in debt and cannot sustain military attack beyond the 1st strike. I hope its military personnel will not be 1st to ask for political asylum in case of hostilities.

    • Raissa…if or when China moves like Russia-like, to grab territories it falsely claim as it’s own, will SANCTIONS by US, Asian countries and EU damaged China’s economy etc.?

      …US freezing China’s $1T assets etc.? Exports curtailed etc.? US Navy putting a naval-blockade for all foreign ships going and outgoing from China etc.?

      What will the 1B 300M Chinese populace say about it etc.?

        • …’without informing Congress’…or without APPROVAL by our CONGRESS! Presidents cannot dispose or sell State’s assets or territories unless approved by Congress…the latter should and must pass a RESOLUTION disapproving such reckless and void ab initio action by ex-pres. Gloria.

      • @ Leona

        I can not help but ask if the Chinese govt really cares what 1B, 300M Chinese populace thinks about it.

        They have their own infestation of cock roaches in government, similar to Marcos, GMAs, Enriles, Estradas, Revillias, Thief Justices, ….etc

        • China’s most important TREASURE …it’s PEOPLE! …though cock roaches, cock roaches so be it! Their gov’t can cease to exists but cock roaches lives for millions of years. Care for them…Xing!

        • We can possess treasure but people????…I agree, they do put a lot of value on people as evidenced by their one child policy. The implementation of the their one child policy has relieved a lot of pain, poverty, population, and suffering. We have to give them credit for that. policy.

        • @david …you maybe right…but what about exceeding the limit and IT’S An unborn yet GIRL? Is it allowed to be born? I ‘heard’ it has to be + + + …

          …AND I can believe the unbelievable that seeing ‘still many females’ there…100 million plus+, they must be ‘the ELDEST and ONLY CHILD’ in a Chinese family…an nth wonder of the world…

          …only in China!

        • I’ve read somewhere that the one child policy is china caused a lot of misery. women were sometimes forced to abort a 2nd child even though the pregnancy is already far advanced. fetus as old as 5-7 mos were aborted. to avoid the fate, women sometimes hid in villages and if caught, they were sent to jail. many families were broken up this way with husbands being separated from their wives.

          also, grandparents usually spoiled the only child in the family and fed it so much that it become fat and obese, given almost everything needed and spared from the realities of life that the child grew up to be tyrant, self centered and uncaring, unable to relate to other children.

          boys were preferrable than girls. baby girls were sometimes abandoned and left to die, some were left in missions and churches. at one stage, there were not enough females in china that men go overseas to find wives.

          I think the one child policy is not strictly implemented now. people can have 2nd child.

  5. International military strategists believe that the next flash point is the control of the South China Sea where one-third of the world trade passes through – and the Philippines’ strategic location makes her an unwilling participant in the event of a shooting war.

    Young powerhouse china prematurely declares her intention to enforce the dubious 9-dash line from weak countries through her growing military might which is, fortunately, years behind in technology and quantity with the U.S., the allies and protector of the bullied nations.

    Since our involvement in a shooting war cannot be avoided anymore, we might as well offer our strategic locations to the U.S. warships which could surely deter china’s aggressive plans considering the awesome combined military capabilities of U.S. and Japan.

  6. @raissa,

    Got to say this…

    Your site is acting weird since the first quarter of 2014. I needed to refresh a page a number of times…especially when posting comments.

    Hmmm…

  7. A look on things from an eye surgeon…

    Commentary: Just look at the Chinese claims of the whole South China Sea, anyone with common sense knows those claims are bogus and baseless as they encroach into other neighboring countries and as far as into Indonesia and Malaysia. Imperialist China is an emerging superpower and has called for more expansionist policy like Hitler did in the 30′s. International should not make the same mistake like it did with Hitler by submitting to Hitler’s dictak and Munich. Nobody can satisfy to the insatiable greed or hunger of the most populous and totalitarian country.

    http://eyedrd.org/2012/04/wikileaks-cable-chinese-officials-admitted-china-cant-prove-spratlys-claim.html

  8. it does not matter, whether US has nukes on their Destroyer ship or not, US of A is always as advance as it was. Their nukes can travel all the way from Diego Garcia to mainland china or where ever they wanted to their enemy. US of A has to protect its interest in the world…they are always the biggest brother to all FREEDOM LOVING country like the Philippine…..

    USof A can see the farthest star, hence they can see Russia and China’s weapons….
    They may know where Malaysia MH 370 is, probably, manufacturing reasons why they have not disclose about it perhaps some later time…

    Philippine does need US of A, as simple as that, those who contradict are communist and rapist of the wealth of our Nation….DAMN THIS TYPE OF PEOPLE AND POLITICS….

    • mac, we just dont want any radioactive materials leaking from warheads of nuke carrying subs, and endangering our population. radioactive poisoning stays in the body system longer and cause more pain and misery. it also has the ability to deform genes that affect future generations. we want the good, not the bad, of this filipino-american military agreement.

      with advances of science and modern medicine, the effects of radioactive poisoning are minimized. it’s costly though and time consuming, its success cannot always be guaranteed.

    • Amen, Mac. The local maoists agents who enjoy porks through the party-list system are vociferously objecting to the “Agreement for enhanced defense capability”, which is expected since their loyalty is not for our country but for the chinese bullies.

    • Mahirap talagang intindhin ang ugali nating mga Filipino….We are asking the help of USA and they said YES.. They will put risk their country and their people ( not only soldiers ) in any event a shooting war begins .. China and North Korea can attack Guam and other Isles at the Pacific and can go trough Mainland USA with Nuclear Warheads SO with the Philippines ” syempre tayo ang protagonist diba PH vs CHINA ” ngayon ayaw nating magadala sila on transit sa Pilipinas ng Nuclear Warheads…. PAPAANO iyan dehado ang USA at tayo din , if we are gping to wait for US MISSILEs still coming from HAWAII maybe… second, minutes ang pinag uusapan dyan….TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE….. Mauna tayong mapupulbus nyan….kayo naman OO… WAG NALANG HUMINGI NANG TULONG sa USA…. kagatan nalang ng yagball’s….We want a heavier defense with the help of USA but we dont like to increase the RISK….

      • Di yan mangyayari dahil sa “Mutually Assured Destruction” (MAD) pag ginawa nila.

        • mutually assured destruction, indeed, you have the gift of the future, praetorius. we ought to take in the eyes in the sky that watch happenings on earth. there are military satellites up in space that not only monitors everything, but alert as well. information conveyed within seconds. actions activated at once. I dont think hostile missiles will get to enter air space of a peace loving country in the pacific region without being challenged. there are sheilds in the sky that not only confuse signals, but may send missiles back to sender, or made them drop from the sky, their direction deactivated and changed.

      • Mali ka dyan, kung nagbabasa kaman lang ng news at history, malalaman mo na ang chinazi is hostile to each neigbhor, almost all the country sorrounding them. Even Russia pinakamatalik na kaibigan ng Chinazi they have history. Magkaibigan lang sila dahil sa common enemy. Alisin mo US maggigirian din nyan. Kahit wala yang US ganun parin gagawin nyan sa pinas at lalong mas madali na sa kanilang gawin yun.

        • he, he, philip, those chinese armaments and ammunitions are most likely to be substandard and of poor quality. might even backfired on the chinese themselves.

          we’ll soonf find out how badly made the chinese armaments are when china and australia will commence joint military exercises. just this month, australia’s prime minister, tony abbott, recently visited china and has invited china for joint military exercises. and guess who will be watching them?

      • Ganyan ang pinoy sa pinas. Basta may masabi o maisulat babanatan. Isang ugali na hindi talaga maalis o maiintindihan. Isang maliwanag na pagpapatunay na walang pagkakaisa at mapang sarili lamang.
        Ang tanong, libre ba o may bayad ang tulong na ito. Magkano ba ang gagastusin na manggagaling sa taxes ng mga pinoys.

        Anyways, what puzzles me is why China keep on insisting the islands belong to them when in fact the ChinaGov knows the facts it doesn’t. They are not stupid and morons.

        I am beginning to think that there is an outside force involved in this disputes. A game if I may call it for the vested economic interest of the that outside force.

        Beside we all know a world war will delete all living things on earth. And what nation want that.

        • bajhista, you must have noticed that here in raissa’s blog, we are expressing opinions, whether wrong or right, everything is considered. just like in post modernism where all things and everything are considered. we have freedom of expression and the right to express them. we talk and exchange ideas and opinions instead of producing our ak47s and blasting one another. talks is cheap and kills no one but as one commenter once said, watch your blood pressure, it can go through the roof.

        • like lawyers who sometimes bluff their way so their clients can be spared the trouble, china bluff too and if you take the bluff and give in, you lose. I bet the chinese did not see the other sides of the filipinos, that we can be termagant, take them to UNCLOS and file charges against them. baka akala nila we are all very peaceful people, ayaw natin ng gulu, and will just let them have their way and give them part of our territories with not a question asked.

          they have under estimated us this time.

          we might be peaceful, but we also want our territories. want them to butt out of our territories. sure, they can visit as tourists and invest in our country, not come here as occupiers and invaders, wiping out our culture and imposing those of their own.

        • Tama ka @moonie! Are there Chinese lawyers who really know ‘how to argue’ before a court of law? That’s why China hates to go into any court case like what Philippines did.

          …in China judicial system, the verdict is already ‘In,’ before the facts are known!

          …China is popularly known to have ‘good Pilosopos’: Confucius, Sun Yat Sen, Mao-Mao, Deng-deng, Xingpao atbpao! It does not work in a fair game like a court of law.

        • I agree. Filipinas could be termagant. I imagine a “bruha” on the air riding in her walis tingting like the one used by metro aides in sweeping the streets. Only in the Pilipins.

        • hahaha, termagant…
          already one of our pinays, going viral in the net.
          seemed to have casted spell on DS-TB.
          who knows, might be an effective armament to ward-off the dragon bully..hehehe…

        • I came to know a termagant – an Italian housewife – when I read about an Italian convicted felon who refused to leave his prison cell after serving his sentence. He told the prison warden that he would rather stay in jail than go home. He explained: “My wife is a TERMAGANT.”

    • i wont mind USA docks with nuke-powered subs or frigates. what is suspect and i don’t want is pinoy officials keeping or maintaining nukes. with our kleptocrats, just their bare hands are already environment hazards.
      and not to mention their talents to divert fund intended for maintenance of a facility.

      • he he he he @Vander

        maintenance budget will go to personal bank he he he, kaya nga dapat ang batas sa magnanakaw ay beheading….

      • @Raissa

        i was carried away he he he somehow they may chnage for good, lets give them a chance after they finish their CONTRACT IN JAIL….

    • I think if you really want to threaten China, do it with economics. Their exports are down, their imports are up. Perhaps I am just a simple minded fool but seems if the trade deficit continues, that would do more damage to China by bursting their economy. Instead of considering the “white flash”, hit them where it really hurts, in their wallets. Look at the pollution in Beijing, the horrific/toxic waste sites and land fills through out China and ask yourself, do you really think the Chinese govt cares about their environment or the people, or a little radioactivity?
      Lets launch a different attack, let’s stop buying Chinese goods and wreak havoc on their ecomomy.

      • Yes David

        that is exactly what was in my mind, internal hunger will cause uprising khalaz he he he that will be CIVIL WAR…..WITHIN CHINA….such a HORRIBLE WAR just like WALKING DEAD…

        • As what Deng Xiaoping said, China’s neighbors should help the Chinese people overthrow a tyrannical government. Let’s start with economic tactics. After a change in Chinese government, we can resume friendly relations with China and enjoy our kinship with the Chinese people who are blood relatives by many, many Filipinos anyway.

        • Don’t you find it weird and ironic that the speech of Deng Xiaoping in UN revolves around “China turning into a tyrant” yet during his own leadership he massacred his own people in Tianamen?

        • I consider the Tianamen massacre as barbaric. But that is an internal affair. Maybe that speech in UN was meant to gain foreign investments that propelled China eventually into an economic superpower. As it is now, China is beginning to lose the trust of international community as well as foreign investors because of its belligerent attitude towards Asian neighbors.

      • Tama @david! That’s what is called DEEP POCKET punishment…it hurts for days and nights!

  9. Dapat maging dynamic tayo… sa ngayon, change is inevitable…yung mga patakaran / policy natin,, dapat akma sa panahon… Mas gusto ko na kumampi sa US kesa sa China… lalo na, mas di hamak na mas maraming Pinoy sa US kesa sa China.. may boses tayo doon eh…

    • you have a point @emong,
      sinusino na ba ang nuknukan ng yaman at patuloy pa rin sa pagsahod ng siksik-liglig na kita at interest sa Pnas?

    • Sa mahigit 100 years na “kakampi” natin ang US, bakit kulelat pa rin ang economy natin, at hindi na modernize ang armed forces natin?

      • pakitanong po yan sa mga naging pangulo (president) ng ating bansa at ang ating mga senador at congressman.

        ang pera para sa modernization ng ating militar, pakitanong kung kaninong bulsa napunta.

        ang pag-unlad ng ating ekonomiya, pakitanong kung kaninong bulsa pumunta ang ating mga buwis, etc. etc.

  10. How many Filipinos were killed by the Chinese?
    How many Filipinos were killed by the Japanese?
    How many Filipinos were killed by the Americans?
    How many Filipinos were killed by the Spaniards?
    “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.”
    ― Edmund Burke

      • Actually, the Chinese seemed to have killed the least number of Filipinos in history.

        At least for now.

        • But the chinese killed millions of Ayungin fish supposed to land at Filipino dishes

        • ay, kalahari some of those ayungin fishes ended up being sold in international markets, raking millions of money for chinese traders with less to no output on their part dahil those fishes were stolen from our shores.

        • atrocities, killings, genocide . . . past history is best kept at the back of our minds and in the past, not out in front to confuse our future and impede our progress. who dare wins.

          I think we have learned much from the past, have honored the past too. now, we feel confident to face the future. if similar obstacles as experienced in the past resurface, we’ll deal with them. we’re already equip with the wealth of hindsight and know the kinks.

        • Our troops, under Gen Mac and side by side with GI Joes, fought in Korea against Nokor and Maoist Troops armed with vintage rifles. So we are not new to fighting commies in superior numbers.

      • I don’t have the exact figures but I agree the Chinese most likely killed only very few Filipinos and they have been dealing with Filipinos for the longest time.

        • ..and they are now dealing drugs slowly killing Filipinos or making Filipinos kill fellow Filipinos…

        • The Chinese even flooded our market with sub-standard steel products. That’s economic sabotage.

        • @Ben

          it does not matter what, how much these killers have did, past is past…
          We cannot allow that KILLINGS to repeat, as long as CPMers are here, united we stand, divided we fall??? he he he

          Currently, China is the biggest RAPIST of our economy, do you know that?
          Everything is made in China, it is raping the whole world!!!

          China is also robbers of our fishes and sea weeds, they even claim some part of which is near to us….

          But why is CHina doing it??? Survival of the fittest….they have too many mouth to feed, their would be internal uprising in a week if most cities in China goes hunger…he he he China cannot make trouble with any country, they need people to buy their products…otherwise civil war in china….he he he he

          Our chinese in Philippines are not happy in China, hence they have chosen Philippine as their mother country….that is great…

        • why would chinese kill filipinos? we have never been officially at war with china, small scale mutiny maybe, occassional murder, that too – but full blown war complete with casualties?

          ben, I think, china dont want dead filipinos, they want buyers who’ll spend up big in buying up chinese made goods. they want yesmen and minions to work for them, raw materials like iron ore they can use, countries they can dominate and trade treaties they can abuse. and dead men dont make good buyers, and workers . . . kill a filipino and another one take its place.

      • Unfortunately and tragically, that number is still rising.

        “Those who DO know detrimental current events, but powerless to change them, are doomed to live with them.”

        —Common Sense

      • vander, maraming pinoy rin ang namatay dahil sa forces of nature, floods, storms, earthquakes, etc. these days, poverty is the silent killer with people being malnourished and cannot afford decent medical care, some work to exhaustion, dying young because of diseases that are preventable but cannot take time off work, for bills have to be paid and families need to be fed.

        • @cpmers and moonie…

          HAYYYYY PROBLEMA YAN HE HE HE HE….climate change resulted in these great typhoons he he he drought he he he etc….tapos liit pa sweldo, di pede absent hayyyy buhay….tapos hihingi ng pambaon yun anak, wahhhhhhhhh hu hu hu di kasya sweldo….hu hu hu….

          meron naman tapos na mag aral, graduate na, pero patuloy pa rin nahinge ng budget, kasi walang work…hu hu hu he he he he buhay nga naman, never ending work hayyyyy

          tapos, yun bread winner kukuha pa ng kulasisi, aup sya, di na nga masolve problem nangdamay pa ng iba he he he

          KAYANIN NAWA NG FUTURE CPM’ERS ANG MAMUHAY TULAD NATIN SA NGAYUN HE HE HE LAKAS NATIN, KAHIT DAMI PROBLEMA, TULOY LANG TAYO HE HE HE….MAY GOD ALMIGHTY GUIDE AND HELP US ALL….AMEN

      • Sad to say we have been driven to kill each other since the beginning of our colonial days. Divide and rule!

    • I am happy that the Spanish friars have stopped conspiring and instigating killing Filipinos particularly killing…or ‘executing’ Dr. Jose P. Rizal et. al. Those Sp.F. have disappeared though.

      …some history indeed!

      We have ‘stopped’ ‘executing’ Filipinos [ the convicted I mean] but the killing continues, again particularly those exercising the occupation of journalists…no one yet arrested, charged and convicted [and will not be executed]… when?

      The ‘high and mighty’ continue to their ‘killing’ of Filipinos in many forms…corruption: stealing people’s money – PDAF DAP Malampaya Funds atbpa! When will this stop?

      ‘I will not resign’ said one of the “H.& M.”, meaning? …continue the killing. This is an on-going history indeed!.

  11. In Europe we have the same kind of agreements with, for example, some countries of Africa. Like Americans, Europeans are experts in psywar and we say also that it is rotational, that the troops are there for a temporary period, that we do not occupy their territories etc. In fact, there are troops the whole year round in these African countries even if, of course, there are not the same soldiers (because of the rotation). It is, de facto, a European occupation of the African hosts, or at least of some facilities of the host countries.
    In short, some parts of the Philippines will be occupied by American troops. It would be interesting to know if Scarborough shoal would become, again, a target practice for the U.S Navy :-)

  12. It is crystal clear that the chinese bullies will not yield a bit on its avowed claim to Ayungin Shoal, gateway to oil-rich Recto Bank, and fish-rich Scarborough Shoal, gateway to deep water going to Subic Bay.

    “On Feb 9, 2014, China rejected US allegations that it is using vague territorial claims to gradually assert control in the disputed South China Sea, and in turn accused Washington of exaggerating tensions in the region.

    “Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei urged the US to take a “rational and fair attitude” and reiterated China’s position that its claims are based on history and international law.” (PDI 4/9/14)

    In another article by Walden Bello, “the brazen moves of chinese maritime surveillance vessels operating over 1,100 kilometers from china’s coast to prevent Philippine civilian vessels from resupplying the tiny marine garrison on Ayungin Shoal, 200 km from Palawan, are steps in the execution of the so-called “cabbage strategy” articulated last year by chinese major general zheng zhaozhong. The aim is to surround Bajo de Masinloc, Ayungin Shoal and other Philippine territories in Spratly Islands with a massive chinese naval presence to starve Filipino detachments and prevent reinforcements from reaching them.” (PDI 3/31/14)

    The US Seventh Fleet is cordially invited to access and use our facilities at Oyster Bay Naval Base in Palawan based on the Agreement for a Heightened Level of Defense Cooperation.

    • ‘cabagge strategy’…maybe gen. zhaozhong loves to eat his food with cabbage! Cabagge have layers of ‘leaves’ peel ’em off…there’s nothing in it! So? Peel ’em off!

      …speaking of ‘foxholes’…hahaha, can you find one in that ocean…? If indeed there is one, stay always ‘behind’ the other guy for safety’s sake! I prefer ‘a snake’ with me inside a foxhole…at least I know it’s a snake! …and not a senaketor!

      Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than yourself. And watch to hate Fox News with O’Reilly the Fox!

      …’no nukes’…never mind asking for Pete’s sake! There’s always. US nuke subs always have it. US carrier battle group always have it. Without it, US Navy will not ‘sail’ the seas.

      ‘rents’ …US to pay? They are and will be defending us, why ask for rents payments when no payments will be made anyway?

      of course…trust the thrusts will always be made on bed is better than inside a foxhole [if two can do it in a foxhole, gee! -there must be no outside explosions happening!]

      …like @Joe…my keyboard is perfectly working!..

        • …US made a ‘tactical’ withdrawal [if ‘TUMAKBO’ they did?] so that it will stop more ‘pregnancies’ of casualties in that war by surpassing all other nations to finish the war…

          ..and USA did come back…BUMALIK to Pilipinas!

          …Asia will be the focus now for USA.

    • @kalahari…..tama ka dyan ….to starve our posted soldiers at Ayungin Shoal but not on Kalayaan Municipality and the sorrounding islet’s being part of the Town and claimed first officially than the Chinese thru a decree of MARCOS .

  13. Here’s an excerpt from the speech Deng Xiaoping (chairman of the delegation of the PRC) delivered to the UN on April 10, 1974:

    “China is a socialist country, and a developing country as well. China belongs to the Third World. Consistently following Chairman Mao’s teachings, the Chinese Government and people firmly support all oppressed peoples and oppressed nations in their struggle to win or defend national independence, develop the national economy and oppose colonialism, imperialism and hegemonism. This is our bounden internationalist duty. China is not a superpower, nor will she ever seek to be one. What is a superpower? A superpower is an imperialist country which everywhere subjects other countries to its aggression, interference, control, subversion or plunder and strives for world hegemony. If capitalism is restored in a big socialist country, it will inevitably become a superpower. The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, which has been carried out in China in recent years, and the campaign of criticizing Lin Piao and Confucius now under way throughout China, are both aimed at preventing capitalist restoration and ensuring that socialist China will never change her colour and will always stand by the oppressed peoples and oppressed nations. If one day China should change her colour and turn into a superpower, if she too should play the tyrant in the world, and everywhere subject others to her bullying, aggression and exploitation, the people of the world should identify her as social-imperialism, expose it, oppose it and work together with the Chinese people to overthrow it.”

    I think this is one of the thing that our government should do- work with the Chinese people in addition to the VFA. Deng should have very well known his people more than any others.

  14. NO bringing of NUKES on the agreement….DEHADO tayo nyan…. IF a war on a large scale happen’s ,, ( launching of missiles for example ),, HOW ARE WE SURE that China will not use missile with nuclear warhead’s on us? A nuclear submarine patrolling the China Sea and into the Philippine territory ,, how can you stop the Chinese then by not using NUKEs on us?

    Mahirap naman ata iyan , we want security with a limited offense/defense?

    If ever we agree on the transit of NUKEs on our territory it should be highly confidential and properly checked by our Governmnent….pero mahirap na wala silang DALA na NUKE lalomg lalo na ang mga submarines nila…maximize the defense so as the RISK…

    • Although under our Constitution Philippines must be NUCLEAR FREE ,,,during the 15th year of VFA , intellegence reports before will tell that US SUB carries with them NUCLEAR WARHEADS while visiting our country…

      • i haven’t been reading lately about this agreement about philippines allowing americans to use our military base except for the headline. i just want to know, does it state in the agreement that the americans will pay something like rent for using the military base like they did at the Clark? Which military base are exactly are they talking about? Irony of ironies. these nationalists, they drove the americans away from Clark and they were paying rent (well, actually, the Mt. Pinatubo eruption finally drove them away). Now the Philippine govt. agrees to let them in, at any cost because we now need them to scare the chikwas away from our shores. I don’t know. sumasakit ang ulo ko.

        • No. The Americans never conceded they had been paying “rent” and they won’t concede now.

        • The Americans have been paying rent in other countries and a lot more than what they did in PH.

        • Noong nasa Subic at Clark pa sila, compared sa rent nila sa Tutkey and others, barya lang compesation natin in the form of “surplus” and obselete military equipments, kaya hindi umunlad ang armed forces natin!

        • Diego, Their surplus and obsolete military equipment is still light years ahead of anything we ever had! So why look a gift horse in the mouth. Barya? Ask yourself, what did the US have to gain by having Clark and Subic all those years? How much did the mere presence on the US servicemen and their dependents inject into the Philippine economy? Also, I’m curious, how much does the US “pay” Turkey for the privilege of having military bases there?

          I think kaya hindi umuulad ang armed forces natin is because of obvious reasons. We don’t have the money budgeted for that very purpose and whatever money is budgeted gets “ridrected” for other “purposes”.

  15. Thank you for this information. Indeed, between the beautiful Chinese beaches and Chinese warships is an awkward place to be.

    I think it is well to let history rest and not try to shade today with it. The Philippines is also binding itself to Japan for defensive support, so it is clear that this is not 1942, and things have changed. They were the murderers on that particular march. If we continue to use our worry or anger to bring past events into to today, we penalize the Philippines. Of course more Filipinos died on the Bataan death march. This is the Philippines. Thousands of Americans also died, and I would hope there would be a measure of appreciation for their sacrifices. They were being good soldiers. As for the VFA and imprisonment clause, it is such a small matter, is it not, in relation to what’s out there across the sea? Again, I don’t think it is necessary to set this relationship in some kind of bitterness from the past.

    I think the Aquino government taking the right steps, getting the right points onto the table, and working diligently to stand as an equal to America. Not face to face as in 1990, or below as in too many minds, but side by side. I have confidence it will be an important partnership and, considering it engages thousands of people and some are more mature than others, will for the most part be a responsible partnership.

      • Ah, Joe, we can’t let history rest. And the imprisonment clause in the VFA is not a small matter. It is part of what defines the relationship between the two countries.

        • Yes, I figured that. As I recently wrote in blog, this sometimes seems to be a culture of criticism and it unfortunately makes the uplift hard to find. People jump on the individual “mistakes” – often outside of full context – and raise them to condemn overall character. It would be a better partnership if we reached for the uplift and simply support the negotiators as they deal with things like the VFA . . . or don’t. And trust that they are doing their honorable best. I also wrote that trust seems hard to find hereabouts.

        • Joe, it’s hard to trust because of the historical context.

          I’ll explain in another post. But not soon.

        • And I will probably join that discussion . . . or what’s a typewriter for?

          Trust is an interesting quality. It means we place our well-being in someone else’s hands. A capable business executive can do it, because that is what delegation means. Sometimes it does not work out well, but most of the time it does. A soldier lives or dies trusting that his buddy will fight hard. If the Philippines cannot trust the U.S., don’t get into the foxhole with Americans. And if the Philippines cannot trust Americans, my advice to Americans is, don’t send your boys and girls to die defending the Philippines. They won’t back you. And they will blame you when the chaos comes.

        • [email protected]

          History tells us that Japan was our enemy and America was not, 72 years ago. Today Japan seems to be our BFF and America simply a partner. Philippines and Japan ride the same boat and will sink together upon a Chinese torpedo. But US rides an aircraft carrier of its own and will join the battle to protect its own interest. And to me that is enough to put a certain degree of trust on US to defend us from China’s attack which act gives US the basis to join the battle in our favor.

          Joe is right. I will never join somebody in a foxhole without some degree of trust.

        • Look at the economy of the countries that has U.S.A. bases,. Germany, Japan, South Korea, Singapore…they have good government and decent life for all their citizens…

        • Very interesting point, ed. Australia is also welcoming US basing. 2,500 marines there, making China angry. I think maybe China has anger management issues.

        • Poor Belgium. All European nations did fight at one point in history in Belgium, the Germans in WWI and WWII, the Dutch before independence, in Waterloo Napoleon and the French, the Austrians, the Spanish, the English… the list is long. So they can’t trust anybody?

          Isn’t the problem within? Filipinos cheating on Filipinos? What business deals, political advantages, plunder opportunities, are in for me? This time for the first time I have the impression that negotiators also look at the Philippines as a nation, not as their personal opportunity for enrichment.

          I’ll feel 100% safer in a foxhole with an American GI than with a Philippine senator.

        • People I’d want in my foxhole. Poe, Roxas, Abaya, young Angara, de Lima, Henares, and Joseph-Ivo. People I wouldn’t, Binay (any), Santiago, young Estrada, Enrile, Romualdez, Marcos and . . . fortunately . . . my typewriter ran out of ink . . .