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Southeast Asia

Philippine president says he will scrap military pact with US

2020-02-09

[WASHINGTONEXAMINER] Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will end the Visiting Forces Agreement that underpins U.S. military training exercises with the country's troops, one of his top advisers announced Friday.

"The president said he is terminating the VFA," Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Friday. "I asked for clarification, and he said he is not changing his decision."

That choice is another blow to the relationship between the United States and the Philippines, which has suffered for years from disputes over Duterte’s human rights
...which are usually entirely different from personal liberty...
record. The belligerent president announced a plan to terminate the deal, which provides legal protection to U.S. troops who visit the island for military drills, after the State Department reportedly canceled the visa of a political ally and former police chief who is suspected of involvement in extrajudicial killings.

"I'm warning you ... if you won't do the correction on this, I will terminate the ... Visiting Forces Agreement," Duterte said late last month. "I'll end that son of a bitch."

Lorenzana argued against scrapping the agreement in a legislative hearing on Thursday, emphasizing that the pact is "more beneficial" to the Philippines "compared to any benefits" that might seem to come from ending it.

"Our contribution to regional defense is anchored in our military alliance with the world's last superpower," he told politicians.

Any weakening of the U.S.-Philippine alliance is a cause for celebration in Beijing, as U.S. officials believe that China is pursuing a plan to dominate the Indo-Pacific region and ultimately challenge the U.S. as a global power.

The Philippines have an important role to play in countering that effort because they are one of the countries with the legal standing to contest China’s claim to illusory sovereignty over the South China Sea, a vital international shipping lane.

Posted by:Fred

#8 It's exactly what the State Department does for Americans abroad.

It’s common knowledge among expats, Skidmark. And not just those who fall afoul of the law — when Mr. Wife was suddenly struck down with amœbic dysentery in Bhopal, it was thanks to the local organization of his multinational employer that he didn’t die his hotel room or an anonymous Indian hospital, but got the best specialist on the subject to supervise his treatment. The State Department would not have been interested in intervening for a mere mid-level company man.

Or when the brother of an acquaintance disappeared while on a Caribbean vacation, the local embassy attacked the family rather than ask the police to search — and continued for years to block the family’s attempt to go down and find out what happened. They still don’t know, and in the process discovered this is a common State Department response.

Posted by: trailing wife 2020-02-09 20:10

#7 no more Angeles City

Posted by: 746 2020-02-09 16:25

#6 Speaking from experience, erb?

Posted by: Skidmark 2020-02-09 14:37

#5 Well, considering the high-handed and contemptuous way that the State Department has treated the Philippines, it's no wonder.

And why do they need special treatment anyway? Shouldn't we just tell them "don't commit crimes in a foreign country, and if you do all we're going to give you is an outdated list of local lawyers and then sayonara"? It's exactly what the State Department does for Americans abroad.

Posted by: Herb McCoy 2020-02-09 11:30

#4 = Noriega situation

Posted by: Lex 2020-02-09 10:36

#3 Another Pina?

Posted by: Lex 2020-02-09 10:33

#2 Democracy is such a chancy thing.....

Posted by: Mercutio 2020-02-09 10:27

#1 “Hey Sailor, love you long time”
RIP Subic Bay

Posted by: USN, Ret. 2020-02-09 09:47

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