U.S. sending commandos, combat aircraft to Philippines
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, right, shakes hands with U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter during his courtesy call at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, Philippines on Thursday, April 14, 2016. Carter is in the country as US and Philippine forces participate in a joint military exercise called shoulder-to-shoulder or “Balikatan”.
MANILA » In a military buildup certain to inflame tensions with China, the United States said Thursday it will send troops and combat aircraft to the Philippines for regular, more frequent rotations, and will conduct more joint sea and air patrols with Philippine forces in the South China Sea.
The announcement by U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter in a news conference with Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin was the first time the U.S. disclosed that its ships had carried out sea patrols with the Philippines in the South China Sea, a somewhat rare move not done with many other partners in the region.
Carter insisted that the U.S. did not intend to be provocative and was “trying to tamp down tensions here.” But Gazmin said he expected that U.S. forces, “with their presence here, will deter uncalled-for actions by the Chinese.”
The increased troop presence is part of a broader U.S. campaign to expand its assistance to the Philippines as America shores up its allies in the Asia-Pacific that are roiled by China’s building of man-made islands in the South China Sea. While the military boost does not include permanent basing for U.S. troops, China views any increased U.S. military presence and activities in the region as a threat.
“Military exchanges by relevant countries should not target third parties, much less support a few countries in challenging China’s sovereignty and security, inciting regional contradictions and sabotaging regional peace and stability,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement in response to Carter’s announcement.
Carter said the U.S. will keep nearly 300 troops, including Air Force special operations forces armed with combat aircraft and helicopters, in the Philippines through the end of the month. The U.S. will increase troop rotations to strengthen training and support increased military operations in the region.
Speaking in the guest house of the presidential complex, Carter said the joint patrols will improve the Philippine navy and “contribute to the safety and security of the region’s waters.” Two patrols have taken place since March. The U.S. also has conducted joint patrols with Japan in the region.
Carter has said that China’s increased aggression in the region is compelling more countries to reach out to the U.S., strengthening their military ties with Washington.
The increase in military support comes days after the Philippines’ ambassador to the U.S. asked the Obama administration to help persuade China not to build in the nearby Scarborough Shoal, which is viewed as important to Philippine fishermen. Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr. said the Philippines cannot stop China from building there. China has built man-made islands in other contested spots in the South China Sea.
Charlito Maniago, the leader of a northwestern Philippine village where many fishermen lost access to the disputed Scarborough Shoal after China seized it in 2012, said the joint patrols will bring hope that fishermen can again sail freely to the rich fishing ground.
“This will boost the confidence of our fishermen because they think the U.S. has the capability to defend them,” Maniago told The Associated Press by telephone from the coastal village of Cato in Pangasinan province. “The presence of America will make China think twice.”
The Pentagon said the U.S. forces that will remain in the Philippines are already participating in the Balikatan, or shoulder-to-shoulder combat exercises, that will end Friday. About 200 airmen, including special operations forces, will remain at Clark Air Base, along with three of their Pave Hawk attack helicopters, an MC-130H Combat Talon II special mission aircraft and five A-10 combat aircraft.
This initial contingent will provide training to increase the two militaries’ ability to work together, laying the groundwork for forces to perform joint air patrols.
Up to 75 Marines will stay at Camp Aguinaldo to support increased U.S. and Philippine combined military operations.
The troops and aircraft are expected to leave at the end of April, but other U.S. forces and aircraft would do similar rotations into the Philippines routinely in the future. Carter would not say how frequently those rotations would happen, but called it a “regular periodic presence.”
Last week the Pentagon announced that the U.S. will give the Philippines about $40 million in military assistance to bolster intelligence-sharing, surveillance and naval patrols. Carter said the aid will include an enhanced information network for classified communications, sensors for patrol vessels and an unmanned aerostat reconnaissance airship to help the Philippines keep watch over its territory.
The U.S. will get access to five Philippine military bases to house American forces that will rotate in and out of the country for training and other missions.
Scarborough Shoal is at the center of a case that Manila filed with the Permanent Court of Arbitration, an international panel, in January 2013 after Chinese coast guard ships took effective control of the disputed land following a tense standoff with Filipino ships.
The shoal sits about 145 miles west of the Philippines, and 620 miles from the Chinese coast.
The court has agreed to take the case. Beijing says the panel has no jurisdiction in the matter.
Associated Press writers Jim Gomez in Manila and Christopher Bodeen in Beijing contributed to this report.
17 responses to “U.S. sending commandos, combat aircraft to Philippines”
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Just trying to stir up trouble… and to justify yet more funding for an already over bloated military.
Got me going! I got 6 military guys with 10 cars renting a 3 bedroom house across from me. That, alone, is not so good. But what irritates me most is the rent is $3200 per month and each of these guys gets close or more to that much a month. Thats somewhere near $ 18,000 of taxpayer money to rent a $3200 house. Thats wasting money.
Go right ahead and bad mouth those who have volunteered to put it all on line to defend your sorry [redacted], but when a grinning sub human positions his knife to cut your throat from ear to ear – – and broadcast the video world wide – – please do not even THINK of complaining.
This is a benefit they deserve but waste is waste. I’ll refrain from retaliating. Have a good day!
Bdpapa says: “This is a benefit they deserve”
To what specific ‘benefit’ are you referring?
/ ps – – at my age, EVERY day is a good day /
I was writing about housing allowance. They deserve housing allowance according to the cost of the housing. The example I gave earlier is abuse!
Wouldn’t dream of saying anything bad about the people who choose professions in the military. But they did choose and whatever MOS they have is their profession. They get paid, trained, housed, clothed, educated and fed for what they do. Following orders is not the same as volunteering. You’ll have to think of another reason to earn your redaction-kissing.
If you so casually dismiss freedom of navigation in international waters by those involved in innocent passage (and world wide commerce) as merely “stirring up trouble”, you may not be aware of how short your life on earth would be if oceanic transport were halted. The shelves in your grocery store would be depleted in weeks. So unless you grow all your own food, fabricate your own clothing &c. &c., you might wish to reconsider.
wouldn’t it be better for the USA to team up with China?
Just imagine if China teams up with Russia…
Does anyone recall the presidential debate that Obama had with McCann and The Great One said that if the USA had a problem with a foreign country he would meet face to face with their leader and diplomatically settle our differences??? I think that was before he got a new set of clubs. He should have gotten a new set of those white round things!!!
Why are we giving $40 to the Phillipines? They should be compensating us for the protection. Remember, they kicked us out a couple of decades ago and took over our infrastructure and military bases. They made their bed and must now sleep in it.
Ahibai—you sound just like Trump–and I agree with you. I recall Clark AB very well.
“Why are we giving $40 to the Phillipines?”
Whatever pittance we pay to the RP to help guard safe passage in international waters of the South China Sea is well worth the money. It beats hell out of fighting a hot war with PRC.
WTH.Why is it when the Philippines feel threaten ,they are all open arms to the US?? It seem like the only time they like us,is when they need a “Strong Arm” to protect them against hostile countries;ie. CHINA….Then by some divine force they suddenly become our Best Buddies!! HOW’s That!…as The Donald said “Our Leaders are So Stupid”…. Boy is he right!!
Here’s my point,but you need to remember this and many other stories!Here’s one of the headlines__”Philippines Orders the US to Leave strategic Navy Base at Subic Bay”.___Yankee Go Home!!
They don’t like the US’s occupation there!!But? I say again But?They will like us only at their convenience?? (They take us for FOOLS!)
They don’t like us there period and we The American people understands this!!
Here’s another story………
Remember the Tranny who was murdered by a US Marine personnel?? They were all protesting the US to Leave the Philippines again!! “Yelling Yankee go Home”!! Indeed we the USA should just go home,why stay in a place where you are not welcome…… But here’s the Kicker! Now??? They want the U.S. to RE_OPEN Those Military Bases again!! IMUA
Out of curiosity, are you saying we shouldn’t be adding troops? Or maybe more generally, what do you think the correct plan should be?
NOT news on ground troops. Our local Honolulu US Marine Corps RESERVE Force Reconnaissance troops starting operating on rotations to the southern Philippines over 25 YEARS ago. One of their “missions” was to “field test” a brand new all-in-one hand-held radio. Dubbed the “Scott O’Grady commemorative survival radio”.
I was a USAF special operator under Col. Richard Secord. Ollie’s weapons buyer. And, the only reason we ever got deployed was to “hurt somebody”.
Thank you for your service. I wish there were more like you.