Duterte Seeks Arms From China, Ends Joint Patrols With U.S.

[Cossack25A1]

Duterte Seeks Arms From China, Ends Joint Patrols With U.S.
By:
Norman P Aquino
Andreo Calonzo
September 13, 2016 — 5:57 PM HKT
Updated on September 13, 2016 — 6:44 PM HKT

• Philippine leader says American-made jets of no use to him
• Won’t join joint expeditions in disputed South China Sea

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he’s considering buying weapons from Russia and China while also ending joint patrols with U.S. forces in the South China Sea.

In a televised speech Tuesday before military officers in Manila, Duterte said that two countries -- which he didn’t identify -- had agreed to give the Philippines a 25-year soft loan to buy military equipment. Later, he said that Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and “technical people” in the armed forces would visit China and Russia “and see what’s best.”

While Duterte said he didn’t want to cut the “umbilical cord” with his allies, the remarks were the latest to signal a shift away from the Philippine-U.S. defense treaty in place since 1951. Since engaging in a public spat with U.S. President Barack Obama last week, Duterte has denounced American military killings during the early days of colonial rule and called for U.S. forces to leave the southern island of Mindanao.

“Duterte seems to be putting into action his latest remarks about trying to implement an independent foreign policy,” said Eduardo Tadem, a lecturer of Asian Studies at the University of the Philippines. “The problem is what’s the quid pro quo? What will the Chinese especially get in exchange?"

On Tuesday, Duterte said the Philippines needs propeller-driven planes that it can use against insurgents and fight terrorists in Mindanao. He said he wanted to buy arms “where they are cheap and where there are no strings attached and it is transparent.”


‘Hostile Act’

“I don’t need jets, F-16 -- that’s of no use to us,” Duterte said. “We don’t intend to fight any country.”

Since 1950, the U.S. has accounted for about 75 percent of the Philippines’ arms imports, according to a database from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Russia and China haven’t supplied any weapons in that time, it showed.

Duterte also said the Philippines won’t participate in expeditions patrolling South China Sea to avoid being involved in a “hostile act.” “I just want to patrol our territorial waters,” he said.

The U.S. began joint patrols with the Philippines earlier this year prior to Duterte’s election win in May. The allies had sought to boost military cooperation to counter China’s claims to more than four-fifths of the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.


‘Rock Solid’

In an e-mailed statement on Tuesday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said that defense relations with the U.S. remain “rock solid” and activities planned this year would continue without interruption. The military had yet to receive a specific directive on how Duterte’s pronouncement on Mindanao would be carried out, it said.

Reacting to Duterte’s pronouncement on Mindanao, Pentagon spokesman Commander Gary Ross said on Monday that the U.S.-Philippine relationship “has been a cornerstone of stability for over 70 years.”

“We will continue to consult closely with our Filipino partners to appropriately tailor our assistance to whatever approach the new Administration adopts,” Ross said.

Duterte spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a televised briefing earlier Tuesday that the president’s statement that American soldiers should leave Mindanao was not yet policy, but the basis for possible action.

“Those statements are not policy set in stone, not policy yet,” Abella said.

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More -> http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...china-for-weapons-ends-joint-patrols-with-u-s
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[ahojunk]

The Philippines should continue to maintain its relationship with both US and China.

Duterte should keep them at equi-distance and get what is best for the Philippines.

There are no permanent allies, the Philippines should just look after its own interests.

 

[Taimoor Khan]

Isnt is funny , the nations, America wanted to use against its perceived adversaries somehow ended up in opposite camp. Turkey mending ways with Russia and China, and now Philippines reaching out to China. American influence is shrinking at alarming pace.

 

[Jlaw]

The Philippines should continue to maintain its relationship with both US and China.

Duterte should keep them at equi-distance and get what is best for the Philippines.

There are no permanent allies, the Philippines should just look after its own interests.

The Philippines should reduce military spending. After all, no one is going to invade Philippines. Philippines should opt for better relationship with China and Russia. The extra money from reduced military spending is better for Philippines to build more hospitals and upgrade roads.

 

[Cossack25A1]

The Philippines should reduce military spending. After all, no one is going to invade Philippines. Philippines should opt for better relationship with China and Russia. The extra money from reduced military spending is better for Philippines to build more hospitals and upgrade roads.

So we are not allowed now to have a modernized military to defend the Philippines? Is that what you are saying now?

 

[Jlaw]

So we are not allowed now to have a modernized military to defend the Philippines? Is that what you are saying now?

no, i said no one is going to invade PH . PH will have better relationship with China and Russia. so decrease some military spending and build hospitals. Duterte would agree as he made comments, "America sell us aircraft carrier", "Chinese build hospitals for us. Better use"

PH is a devleoping country that is not bordering anyone. No country is going to invade it so why not use military funds to build roads, etc.
Remove the americans, sign defense treaty with China-Russia

 

[Beast]

Duterte is a wise man. Not like the foolish aquino. Its good that non Chinese related pinoy to be Philippine president.
They no need to be gung ho to prove their loyalty to Philippine.

 

[Cossack25A1]

no, i said no one is going to invade PH . PH will have better relationship with China and Russia. so decrease some military spending and build hospitals. Duterte would agree as he made comments, "America sell us aircraft carrier", "Chinese build hospitals for us. Better use"

PH is a devleoping country that is not bordering anyone. No country is going to invade it so why not use military funds to build roads, etc.
Remove the americans, sign defense treaty with China-Russia

We are spending just 1.2% of the country's GDP for the military while the rest of the GDP can be used to develop the country. We do not need to less spend on the military as it is not that big enough to affect other projects.

 

[Nike]

good, Brunei soon will have better military than Ph

 

[Anjo]

To begin with, buying from the Russians or the Chinese would have been almost unthinkable just a couple of months ago. It just goes to show that there's a lot going on behind the scenes between nations that's obviously undisclosed to the public. Decreasing defense spending wouldn't do much as the defense budget is already so pitifully small.

 

[TaiShang]

The extent of Duterte's recalibration of the strategic direction of his country has proven to be beyond my most extreme anticipations. This may suggest things:

1. He has enormous public support behind himself. No politically weak leader would be able to drive such a radical change.

2. The foreign policy actions of the previous government did not have the absolute mandate or approval by the common people. It was probably a case of the US propping up its national interests by utilizing an elected government which betrayed the public trust.

Given that the current fashion is to first shock-democratize nations and then reduce to pariah status (like how the US wanted to achieve through the Arab Spring but the plans were halted in Damascus), this was not surprising.

It is telling that the practical way to stand up to the US neo-fascism is not fundamentalist neo-liberalism, but, public-oriented, effective socialism.

 

[qwerrty]

More groups say Duterte must end US-PH military agreements
Sep. 14, 2016 ZEA IO MING C. CAPISTRANO

DAVAO CITY — Various groups are urging President Rodrigo Duterte to end agreements with the United States following his declaration of pushing for an independent foreign policy and the pullout of US Special Forces in Mindanao.

Multisectoral organization Sanlakas said they welcome Duterte’s declaration and said he “must go beyond rhetoric by revoking the Visiting Forces Agreement, Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and similar military agreements with US consistent with its desire to pursue an independent foreign policy.”

“In the same vein, sovereignty should be the primordial and an underpinning principle governing how the Philippines should relate to other countries, including China,” the group said in a statement on Tuesday, September 13.

In a speech in Malacañang on Monday, September 12, Duterte said the US Special Forces have to leave Mindanao. He said he wanted to review the foreign policy before

“Hindi ko lang masalita noon (I just cannot talk about it before), out of respect or I do not want a rift with America, but they have to go,” he said.

The President also presented images of the US operations in Mindanao showing Moro people killed violently by US troops during the time of American colonization. He said the images were from a “US archive”.

Duterte also announced that he will push for an independent foreign policy following the conclusion of the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos.

“In relations with the world, the Philippines will pursue an independent foreign policy. We will observe and insist – I repeat, I insist – on the time honored principles of sovereign equality, non-interference and commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes to best serve our people and protect the interests of our country,” he said during the arrival ceremony at the Davao International Airport on Saturday midnight, September 10

Historical injustices

Bai Ali Indayla, secretary general of Kawagib Moro Human Rights organization said they appreciate Duterte’s recognition that there were historical injustices committed against the Moro people.

She said the government should junk the EDCA and VFA “which we do not need.”

“We should stand up as an independent country,” she said.

Indayla said Duterte’s actions is a way of telling the US that they have done wrong against the Moro people.

“That they have not yet offered any apology and indemnification to afford justice to the victims,” she told Davao Today in an interview during a forum on peace talks at the Ateneo de Davao University Tuesday.

“Whatever the President’s objective is for doing it, it was a big thing for us,” she said.

She said the pullout of the US troops in Mindanao is not just because of the possibility that they can be targets of attacks, but because the foreign troops were involved in atrocities against the Moro people.

“They are not just attacking Moro communities and raping the women, they also trample on our national sovereignty that is why we have been calling for the pullout of US troops long before President Duterte’s pronouncements,” she said.

Duterte told: Be like Recto

Meanwhile, Anakpawis Partylist Rep. Ariel Casilao said Duterte should emulate former Senator Claro M. Recto who opposed the 1947 Military Bases Agreement, the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and the Tydings Rehabilitation Act.

He said Duterte should ultimately rid of the foreign military forces from the whole country by abrogating EDCA, the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Mutual Defense Treaty.

Casilao said that the mere existence of the partial agreements “is contrary to the president’s declaration of an independent foreign policy.”

However, Casilao cautioned the president against the maneuvers of the US who would not be taking his criticisms seating down.

“This September 11 was the anniversary of the CIA-backed coup d’etat against the democratically elected Allende government of Chile in 1973, and recently left-leaning Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff who garnered 55 million votes during the 2010 elections was impeached by 61 senators,” Casilao said.

“They were ousted because they opposed the dictates of US, and its president Barack Obama had the gall to insinuate reminding the president about human rights,” he added.



CPP: remove all US troops

The Communist Party of the Philippines also called on Duterte to remove US troops “not only in Mindanao”.

“There are US special forces, army and naval troops operating across the entire country. Under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) of 2014, the US military has set up or is setting-up facilities inside AFP camps such as Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Benito Ebuen Air Base in Mactan and Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro,” the CPP said in a statement on Tuesday.

It said: “US military troops and advisers have long been operating clandestinely inside AFP camps in Cagayan Valley, Bicol, Samar, Panay, Negros and elsewhere. US troops remain stationed in Guian, Samar, which they have not left since 2013 after extending “assistance” in the wake of supertyphoon Yolanda.”
It also said that many US soldiers are not Caucasian so as not to attract attention.
Thousands of US troops regularly dock at various ports of the country for “rest and recreation” subjecting Filipino women to rape and abuse, the CPP said.
It said President Duterte must also demand an investigation on the US troops operations carried out in Sulu, the rest of Mindanao as well as in other parts of the country. (davaotoday.com)

 

[ahojunk]

The PH should first and foremost look after its own interests. Don't be a pawn and be used by another big power, whoever it is. They may say nice things to PH, but at the end of the day they are only furthering their own interests, not PH's interests.

IMO, the PH should not end its "military alliance" with US as it is giving aid of US$120 million this year. PH can revisit this next year if there is no more aid.

PH should be "friendly" to China as Duterte said they are building hospitals, schools, etc.

There is no need for PH to be friendly with one and be an enemy to another. Be "friends" with them if it is beneficial to PH.

This is my opinion. Feel free to disagree and move on.

 

[Anjo]

Duterte: PH to buy defense assets from Russia, China

Rappler

Pia Ranada

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte has instructed Philippine defense officials to go to Russia and China to buy defense assets from those countries.

"I would like to ask Defense Secretary Lorenzana to, samahan kayo – the technical people. Pumunta kayo ng Russia at pumunta kayo ng China at tingnan ninyo kung ano ang pinakamabuti," said Duterte on Tuesday, September 13.

(I would like to ask Defense Secretary Lorenzana to accompany the technical people. Go to Russia and China and see what's the best.)

He was speaking at the 48th anniversary of the Presidential Airlift Wing at Villamor Air Base, attended by Philippine Air Force (PAF) troops and military officials.

Two countries, he said, have offered the Philippine government a soft loan for the purchase of military equipment.

"Two countries have agreed to give me the softest loan. It will be payable in 2025," he said, while giving assurances that the government has the money for defense assets as part of the military's modernization plan.

Duterte has told these two countries that he prefers assets that can be used to fight insurgencies and terrorism, particularly in Mindanao.

"Sabi ko sa kanila na I want weaponries and armaments, hindi ko kailangan 'yang mga jets, 'yang mga F-16 (I told them I want weaponries and armaments, I don't need jets, the F-16s), that's of no use to us. We don't intend to fight any country using that….Let's content ourselves with even the propeller-driven planes but which we can use extensively sa (in) anti-insurgency," he said.

Aside from "propeller-driven planes," he wants "short-run bombers" to counter internal threats.

F-16 jets, which Duterte said are unnecessary, were offered by the United States to the Philippines. The US has provided two warships – Alcaraz and Del Pilar – pending the Philippines' procurement of brand new ones.

The Philippines has no defense treaty or agreements with China and Russia. It has a Mutual Defense Treaty and an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the US inked in 1951 and 2014, respectively.

Government-to-government deal

Duterte said he would only allow the "government-to-government" purchase of equipment and deals with "no strings attached."

"We can buy the arms where they are cheap and where there are no strings attached and it is transparent. I told them, I would not deal with you except on a government-to-government basis," the President said.

China, a potential source of Philippine defense assets under the Duterte administration, is in the middle of a maritime dispute with the Philippines.

It continues to reject an international arbitral tribunal's ruling that recognizes the Philippines' claim over the West Philippine Sea and not China's.

But Duterte made it clear he wants to use new military equipment for internal security threats such as terrorism in Mindanao which "could generate into a full-blown civil war."

Duterte assured the military that the modernization of the Armed Forces would continue under his administration.

"You will start your modernization further with me. Ibigay ko sa lahat sa inyo 'yung kailangan ninyo para talunin 'yung kalaban (I will give you everything you need to beat the enemy)," he said.

 

[Nike]

lol, he never see it was F 16 which one of the best preffered CAS in many occasion to fighting against insurgent