Manila Bulletin

February 4, 2023
US Defense Secretary Austin reaffirms
America’s ‘ironclad commitment’ to PH
The visit of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III and his high-level talks with
President Marcos and his counterpart, Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., underlines
the strength of the bilateral ties between the two countries. The visit comes at a
time of increasing tensions between the US and China on the issue of Taiwan,
which is less than four hundred kilometers from Itbayat island in Batanes.

Only last November, US Vice President Kamala Harris boarded a Philippine Coast
Guard vessel in Palawan and told her audience about America’s values pertaining
to the region, emphasizing “respect for sovereignty and international integrity,
unimpeded lawful commerce, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and freedom of
navigation.”

The most significant outcome of the Austin visit was the joint announcement that
four additional sites have been chosen for the setting up of bases to be used by
Filipino and American troops for training purposes under the Expanded Defense
Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) that was crafted after the expiry of the military
bases agreement between the two countries.

Currently, there are five agreed military sites under EDCA: Benito Ebuen Air Base
in Cebu, Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro City, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija,
Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, and Basa Air Base in Pampanga.

The specific location of the four additional sites has not been disclosed, as due
notice will be given to the affected local government units (LGUs) after the sealing
of diplomatic letters formalizing the agreement.

Over the past decade, concerns have been raised on the strength of the US’
commitment to support the Philippines, especially in the light of heightened
activities by China in the South China Sea. Upon the initiative of then President
Benigno S. Aquino III, the Philippines raised to the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in The Hague, Netherlands, issues pertaining to China’s expansive outlook based
on its nine-dash line theory. In 2016, the arbitral tribunal upheld the Philippines’
position on most of its submissions; eight governments called for the ruling to be
respected. But China continues to maintain an active presence in the area
through active coast guard patrols.

Covered in the Austin-Galvez talks were mutual concerns in the areas of

humanitarian assistance, economic development, peace and security.
Emphasizing the broader scope of US-PH relations, Secretary Austin manifested
that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will extend help to the
communities affected by a recent severe earthquake that hit Davao de Oro.
In a statement released from Camp Aguinaldo following the dialogue between the
two defense secretaries: “Both Galvez and Austin expressed they are looking
forward to continuously working to develop the two countries’ joint defense
capabilities.” Interoperability is the key concept. As the US is the main source of
Philippine defense materiel, it is essential that the Filipino troops’ capability to
deploy equipment be honed continuously. This is sought to be achieved by the
joint annual Balikatan exercises.

Since the Obama administration, top US officials have used the phrase “ironclad
commitment” to characterize the extent to which American obligations under its
Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines would be kept. The outcome of the
Austin visit indicates an apparent determination to reaffirm such commitment.

Read here: https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/04/us-defense-secretary-austin-reaffirms-

americas-ironclad-commitment-to-ph/

Subject: International Relations, Philippine territories and possessions