Ensure Philippine Sovereignty; Investigate Recent Developments in USRP Relations Privilege Speech of Akbayan Rep.

Walden Bello February 8, 2012 I would like to raise my concern over recent developments in USPhilippine relations that are reported in the newspapers. Washingtons two-point agenda in the Philippines is no secret to most of us in Congress: to contain Chinas ascent to power, and refocus its war on terror to South East Asia, which it has tagged as one of the training grounds of Islamic fundamentalism, especially as its sojourn in the Middle East expires. We in Congress should monitor the decisions that the administration is making. Talks between the Philippine government and their American counterparts are all over the news, but information about what is happening, and what is being agreed on are very rare to come by. In fact, just today, the Philippine Daily Inquirer echoed a February 3 report from Bloomberg that the US plans to rotate some 4,000 armed personnel through Australia, Hawaii, Subic Bay and perhaps a smaller base in the Philippines, leaving their activities here to speculation. Many of us in Congress have no knowledge of the plans that the Department of Foreign Affairs discussing with the US. And while we dont expect to have access to all the details, as the peoples representatives in government, Congress must gain an understanding of the over-all direction of these plans. We in Congress should monitor the decisions that our government is making and the plans with the US that we are executing, and we must be able to make positive contributions to such crucial decisions, especially in the face of growing disagreement with the Peoples Republic of China over territories in the West Philippine Sea. We are alarmed by US President Barack Obamas and Secretary of State Hilary Clintons announcement that America will refocus its military build-up in the Asia-Pacific region, with particular interest in the West Philippine Sea. And as the government continues to provide room for American troops in our soil, we are forced to ask the question: Who is pushing whom? Or who is pulling whom into greater conflict? The US compromises peoples interest in the West Philippine Sea Dear colleagues, I would like to show you how the growing military

alliance with the United States puts the Philippines in a very precarious situation. The Philippine claim to the Kalayaan Island Group, despite vehement protests from the Peoples Republic of China and their unreasonable claim over the entirety of the Spratlys, has mobilized the whole population and captured the Filipinos nationalist imagination. The people are very supportive of the governments claim, and we are 100% behind the government in protection of our sovereignty. However, the DFAs approach of resorting to the US alliance as the primary option in defending our sovereignty threatens our claim to territories in the West Philippine Sea and might set back our bid for independence and sovereignty from hegemonic powers. We are concerned that bringing the US as a solution of first resort will convert valid territorial disagreements into a super-power conflict. Already, news about US intervention into the China- South East Asia conflict prompted the right-wing Chinese Communist Party newspaper Global Times to demand that the Philippines be punished thru economic sanctions. The joint war games between US and Philippine troops in the West Philippine Sea planned for April will definitely fan the ultra-nationalist flames in China and exacerbate this problem. And in that event, territorial disagreements, and finding multilateral solutions to them, will be pushed to the margins. We should not follow the strategy of opposing a rising power with a declining hegemon. Even as we have criticized China for alarming statements which smack of hegemony, we have always said that the solution lies with our alliance with ASEAN countries and multilateral diplomacy rather than the use of force. Allow me to emphasize that what is needed is patient diplomacy, multilateral diplomacy. Only by engaging China through ASEAN will we be able to create a lasting solution. We have already proved that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLoS) is effective in developing a solution to the territorial disputes. We have redrawn our baselines, ensuring that geographical boundaries to our territory are in full compliance with international norms and treaties, all of which China refuses to recognize. Already we have successfully exposed Chinas lack of willingness for multilateral negotiations over the Spratlys, and we have successfully claimed the moral high ground in our effort to resolve the territorial disputes diplomatically. Increased US presence in the region threatens to undo our achievements, and unfortunately for the Filipino people, this is the direction of the DFAs policies. At the minimum, Congress must investigate Americas plans in the West Philippine Sea.

As the peoples representatives, it is incumbent upon Congress to take decisive steps to prevent the degeneration of legitimate territorial conflicts to super-power confrontation. As the peoples representatives, and because the Spratly issues have revived the peoples strong sense of nationalism, it is our duty to give people a voice in terms of charting the direction of policies with respect to the United States, China, and the Spratlys dispute. Philippines as a pawn in the US anti-terror campaign Likewise, Congress must look deeper into the continuation of the US-RP partnership against terrorism, especially in the south. Let us remember that the US War on Terror in the Middle East has run its course, and this is precisely the reason why they are zeroing in on South East Asia, and friendly governments like us, to continue their campaign. Was it really Philippine interest that we forwarded when the military launched a US-backed airstrike in Jolo a few days ago, or were we merely executing Jemaah Islamiyah and Al-Qaeda operatives so that Americans may sleep better at night? After all, the value of fringe benefits the Philippines stands to gain is worth nothing when it is Filipinos and peace in Mindanao that becomes collateral damage in this fight. US Ambassador Harry Thomas recently stated that Washington has spent USD 517M to upgrade Philippine military facilities. We ask: what facilities are those that have been upgraded? In this connection, it is important to investigate very alarming reports that a US facility is housed in one of the Philippine Military bases around Manila, and that this is being used for rendition of so-called terrorists to third countries. Let us not forget that the CIAs rendition of people to third countries is universally condemned, and the Philippines must take steps against being used as a staging ground for such illegal practices. We must also look into the report that the troops from Okinawa, Japan, will be on rotation in the Philippines. Let us remember that the people of Okinawa have been vehemently opposed to the US bases on their island, as Filipinos were when, due to broad public pressure, we successfully closed US military facilities in the early 90s. We must be wary of this creeping increase of US military activity in the Philippines, and we should investigate the role of renewed military bases in this plan. To address all these concerns and ensure that the Executives plan is transparent, and that it duly prioritizes Philippine sovereignty and the peoples interest over US attempt to maintain its hegemony, we have

to critically assess the elements of this strategy to step up US Military presence on Philippine soil. As the peoples representatives, it is our duty to mount an investigation into this development in US -Philippine relationships.