U.S., Philippines agree on five base locations under defense deal

Business Insider ^ | March 18, 2016 | David Brunnstrom

[JPX2011]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and the Philippines have agreed on five locations for U.S. military facilities in the Philippines under a security deal agreed amid rising tensions with China, a senior U.S. official said on Friday.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Amy Searight said the deal was reached under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) signed last year that grants Washington increased military presence in its former colony through rotation of ships and planes for humanitarian and maritime security operations.

Searight told the opening of the annual U.S.-Philippines Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Washington that Manila was a “critical U.S. ally” and ties had never been stronger.

She did not detail the locations but said U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter would visit the Philippines in April to discuss implementation of the agreement.

[kearnyirish2]

I watched a documentary about the fall of South Vietnam (from their perspective); a Vietnamese naval officer was describing how as they approached the Philippines with ships loaded with refugees they were prohibited from entering flying the flag of South Vietnam. They had to switch them for American flags before they could land there.

Vietnam today is a communist country that can deal with Red China on their own; our focus is more on the other countries with which have better relations: Japan, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, India...

[jstaff]

Last I heard Clark was pretty well unusable due to being covered by up to 2’ of ash from Mt Pinatubo. Might be interesting to go back and see what is uncovered if they do accept it.

[twister881]

Appreciate the update; many moons since I was in the RP. Sometimes get a desire for a cold San Miguel and a Cubi Chili Dog.

[MasterGunner01]

A point well taken. The Philippine politicians let their greed override the impact the loss of these bases on the economy. To put 80,000 Filipinos out of work because of this childish tantrum of theirs to screw the Americans really came back to bite them in the butt. Of course, no one counted on Mt. Pinatubo blowing up and destroying Clark AFB either.

Now, with the threat of Mainland China looming large in SEA, the Philippines are wanting the Americans back to ward off the Chinese. How convenient of them. We shall see how this plays out.

[kearnyirish2]

That’s right; when Red China starts snatching their islands and fishing their waters, they want the imperialist Yankee devils back...

[WVKayaker]

That’s right; when Red China starts snatching their islands and fishing their waters, they want the imperialist Yankee devils back...

Such a simplistic view of history!

I live in Davao City, Philippines now. I first came to Subic Bay on a Tin Can (Perkins, DD-877) in 1966. I don't think that your little blurb tells the whole story.

This land was occupied for more than 300 years by the Spanish. In the 1940's, Japan decided they had a strategic place to further their plans. The Americans rescued them both times, but it came with a price. America had a strategy for the Islands, as well. But, there are still lots of Filipinos who resent Americans, and a much larger group that loves us.

America needs the Philippines more than vice versa. Though many are poor, the people here are largely happy with life and smiling is first nature. There were Nationalists that wanted the US gone. They didn't want to continue with an exterior control factor. The monetary demands for leases was not the main reason America left. It was a time when the whole world was changing. It still is...

America needs to be able to service and defend the area of the South China Sea and there is no better place than the Philippines Archipelago ... or a friendlier people.

[wildbill]

They demanded that we leave, abandoning the bases that had been built since 1898 and then reconstructed after we liberated the PI from the Japanese in WW2.

I say no return unless they rebuild to our specs and pay us for extending our protection to them once again;

[kearnyirish2]

You’re being oversimplistic; they killed thousands of us trying to get us out.

“America needs to be able to service and defend the area of the South China Sea...”

No, the countries in the area of the South China need to defend and service it; we haven’t had a stake there since 1973.

[WVKayaker]

... they killed thousands of us trying to get us out.

They killed NOBODY. You have no idea what you are talking about! Maybe you should check those knees... they are jerking a little too much!

There are currently more than 300,000 Americans happy to be living in the Philippines.

[kearnyirish2]

I must have imagined the Philippine-American War. Do you really have no idea what that was?

[WVKayaker]

You are talking about a completely different time period. That war was a result of American colonialism. The Philippine people didn't want another daddy! We are talking about the 1970's when those bases were closed. You are reverting to ancient history. There were far more Filipinos killed by the Americans.

...

This was America's first true colonial war as a world power. After defeating Spain in Cuba and in the Philippines in 1898, the U.S. purchased the Philippines, Puerto Rico and several other islands from the Spanish. However, the Filipinos had been fighting a bloody revolution against Spain since 1896, and had no intention of becoming a colony of another imperialist power. In February of 1899, fighting broke out between the occupying American Army and the Filipino forces. ...

... Talk about war being 'hell,' this war beats the hottest estimate ever made of that locality. Caloocan was supposed to contain seventeen thousand inhabitants. The Twentieth Kansas swept through it, and now Caloocan contains not one living native. Of the buildings, the battered walls of the great church and dismal prison alone remain. The village of Maypaja, where our first fight occurred on the night of the fourth, had five thousand people on that day, -- now not one stone remains upon top of another. You can only faintly imagine this terrible scene of desolation. War is worse than hell."--Captain Elliott, of the Kansas Regiment, February 27th -http://www.historyguy.com/PhilipineAmericanwar.html#.Vu8XXcftlJX

[kearnyirish2]

Now that Red China is in their backyard, they DO want another “daddy”. I’ve Filipino money from 1944; “United States” on one side, Philippines on the other; we were their daddy then when Asia’s bully du jour was Japan...

[Doofer]

isn’t Cubi Point the Fed EX Asia hub?

It was at one time but Fed Ex moved it to China.

[WVKayaker]

we were their daddy then when Asia’s bully du jour was Japan...

Do you understand the word "occupation"? I am not talking about having a job. I am talking about somebody sitting on your head and telling you when to pee. There were lots more Filipinos that lost their lives in those wars, than Americans.

But, I am an American, and don't want to see anybody lose life. I am glad that I had the opportunity to come here and make another life. At 68, I have lots of time left.... or not! But, I came here because the people are friendly, they speak English, and the exchange rate/cost-of-living makes my dollars go so much further. That is why more than 300,000 Americans and a host of other nationalities are here. Combine that with beautiful ladies and I am a winner, as are many of my friends. Left to right, USAF Ret, USArmy Ret. USN 66-68, VN Vet.

[kearnyirish2]

I’m glad you like it there; we have plenty of Filipinos in my area and parish, and they are friendly people. I just don’t think you can deny that their stance towards us shifts with the aggression of their neighbors.

[AlmaKing]

i learn something here every day.

my company bought some of the facilities at Clark, and we set up operations a number of years ago. US employees visiting there still need private and safe transportation to the area.