More than 1,300 Hawaii soldiers and Marines last week wrapped up involvement in expanded war games in the Philippines amid reports the nation has agreed to allow U.S. troops, ships and aircraft access to at least eight bases for rotational deployments.
Two of the eight bases — Naval Station San Miguel and Naval Station Carlito Cunanan — face the South China Sea (also called the West Philippine Sea) and the disputed Spratly Islands where China has embarked on a sand-dredging effort to turn coral reefs into artificial islands, according to ABS-CBN News in Manila.
Satellite imagery shows a concrete runway taking shape.
China’s buildup could lead to the deployment of long-range radars and advanced missile systems and establishment of an air defense identification zone to exert greater control over the region, Adm. Samuel Locklear III, the head of U.S. Pacific Command, told the House Armed Services Committee in mid-April.
ABS-CBN quoted the Phil- ippines’ former representative to the United Nations, Lauro Baja Jr., saying, "Like it or not, China wants hegemony over the region which I think the U.S. will not allow. That’s why they entered into the (basing) agreement."
The U.S. Pacific Command referred questions about the basing report to the Pentagon.
An Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which aims to bolster the security relationship by allowing the U.S. to station troops and conduct operations on Philippine territory, was put in place last year by Manila and Washington. However, the Philippine Supreme Court has yet to rule on its constitutionality.
Consequently, both countries have agreed to delay implementation of the agreement, said Marine Lt. Col. Jeffrey Pool, a Pentagon spokesman.
"There has been an informal, working-level discussion of potential locations, but no final decisions have been made nor are there any plans to begin implementing the (agreement) until the Supreme Court completes its review," Pool said.
The largest Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercise in the Philippines in 15 years wrapped up Thursday. About 6,500 U.S. troops, 5,000 from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and 70 Australian Defence Force personnel took part in the 31st iteration of the training, which started April 20.
The exercise focused on improving security cooperation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and crisis response.
According to the Pentagon, about 2,500 U.S. and 3,000 Philippine service members participated in the exercise last year.
"Philippine and American officials have stressed that Balikatan 2015 is not direct- ed at any nation, but considering recent events in the area, the military exercise will be seen as sending a pointed message to China, which has made a claim that the South China Sea is Chinese territory by virtue of a nine-dash line looping around most of the sea," the Manila Bulletin said in an editorial.
Hawaii Marines with the 3rd Marine Regiment practiced amphibious landings with Philippine counterparts at North Beach in western Zambales province.
About 3,500 Marines participated in this year’s Balikatan, said 2nd Lt. Natalie Poggemeyer, a public affairs officer at Marine Corps Forces Pacific. A large-scale training exercise involving an air assault, amphibious assault and combined arms live-fire was part of the mix.
About 550 Hawaii Marines from the 3rd Marine Regiment, including personnel from the 3rd Battalion that are part of the Unit Deployment Program in Okinawa, and Combat Assault Company, were sent to the Philippines, Poggemeyer said.
About 800 Hawaii soldiers from the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and 25th Combat Aviation Brigade also are part of Balikatan, according to the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks.
"They’ve been involved in a variety of missions — a lot of training interoperability with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as well as civic projects, humanitarian and civic assistance projects," said 25th Division spokes- man Lt. Col. Will Griffin.
The soldiers deployed to Thailand, South Korea and then the Philippines as part of Pacific Pathways, a U.S. Army Pacific initiative to send soldiers from one training location to another, and in doing so, maintain a larg- er ready force of soldiers in the western Pacific region.
According to ABS-CBN, Philippine Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gregorio Catapang and U.S. Pacific Command’s Locklear drew up the list of eight bases in October.
The military bases are: Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Crow Valley in Tarlac, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Naval Station San Miguel in Zambales, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Naval Station Carlito Cunanan in Palawan, Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu and Naval Base Rafael Ramos in Cebu.
