Golez: Philippines-US defense ties to focus on terrorism, drugs? How can that be, Mr. Secretary? Terrorism and drugs are internal security matters and a foreign power cannot meddle except in an advisory manner.
May I note that now, more than ever, the Philippines faces a grave external threat directed at the Kalayaan Island Group and 90% of the West Philippine Sea where elements of our armed forces, and our public vessels and aircraft are deployed, the attack on which entities are covered by the MDT.
The Mutual Defense Treaty is for an external threat as clearly stated in its Preamble:
"Desiring to declare publicly and formally their sense of unity and their common determination to defend themselves against external armed attack, so that no potential aggressor could be under the illusion that either of them stands alone in the Pacific area.
"Desiring further to strengthen their present efforts for collective defense for the preservation of peace and security pending the development of a more comprehensive system of regional security in the Pacific area.'
And this is further stated in Articles III, IV and V of the MDT, i.e. clearly referring to "external armed attack":
"ARTICLE III. The Parties, through their Foreign Ministers or their deputies, will consult together from time to time regarding the implementation of this Treaty and whenever in the opinion of either of them the territorial integrity, political independence or security of either of the Parties is threatened by external armed attack in the Pacific.
"ARTICLE IV. Each Party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific area on either of the Parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes.
"Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall be immediately reported to the Security Council of the United Nations, Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security.
"ARTICLE V. For the purpose of Article IV, an armed attack on either of the Parties is deemed to include an armed attack on the metropolitan territory of either of the Parties, or on the Island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific Ocean, its armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific."
IMHO, the MDT cannot be realigned to address terrorism or drugs, being internal security matters, without amending the MDT.
I believe the government should decide once and for all whether it is comfortable with the Philippine-US alliance and if not, abrogate it already instead of maintaining a neutered MDT that would not anymore be useful in an external armed attack.
May I finally note that now, more than ever, the Philippines faces a grave external threat directed at the Kalayaan Island Group and 90% of the West Philippine Sea where our elements of the armed forces, and our public vessels and aircraft are deployed, the attack on which entities are covered by the MDT.
Philippines -US defense ties to focus on terrorism, drugs
LIMA – The focus of defense ties between Manila and Washington would shift from preparing for invasion to enhancing capabilities against terrorism and illegal drugs, the Philippines’ top diplomat said yesterday.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said the change in focus of the two countries’ security partnership was discussed during his meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry in the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit here yesterday.
“We have agreed to move forward insofar as our mutual cooperation is concerned, not so much to focus on joint military exercises but more on these areas of joint cooperation, in the area of the war against illegal drugs, corruption, disaster mitigation and disaster response,” Yasay told reporters in a press conference.
“I explained to him (Kerry) the need for us, meaning the Philippines and the United States, to continue with our joint cooperation in the areas of illegal drug interdiction and we hope that they would be able to continue to assist us in our capacity building,” he added.
Differences over President Duterte’s brutal war on illegal drugs have strained the relationship between the US and its traditional ally the Philippines.
More than 3,000 drug suspects have been killed, about half of them in law enforcement operations, since Duterte assumed office last July.
The US, the United Nations and the European Union are worried that the drug campaign, which has been linked to the spate of summary killings of suspected drug offenders, would encourage human rights violations.
Duterte was angered by the comments and accused his critics of meddling with his campaign. He also denied that the government endorses extrajudicial killings and even claimed that some of the slain suspects were killed by drug gangs to prevent them from squealing on their companions.
In what appears to be a retaliatory move against the US, Duterte announced last month that he was separating from Washington in terms of security and the economy. He later clarified that he is not cutting ties with the US but was merely seeking a more independent foreign policy.
Yasay said he had assured Kerry that the Philippines would continue to honor the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and its supporting documents, including the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which provides American troops greater access to Philippine bases.
But Duterte hinted at dropping EDCA last month, noting that the deal did not contain the signature of a sitting president. His administration eventually decided to honor the agreement even as it discontinued at least two bilateral military drills with the US, namely the PHIBLEX amphibious exercises and the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training.
Yasay explained that when the MDT was signed in 1951, there were concerns that Asian countries would fall into the hands of communists.
“At that time, the world was engaged in the Korean War and the dominant theory then insofar as these events were concerned was that when Korea falls into the hands of communists, Vietnam will be next, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, including the Philippines,” Yasay said, noting that the MDT was deemed necessary because of the perception.
“But then as events turned out today, the domino theory had been proven to be false,” he added.
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