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Palace defends PHL's joint patrols with US in disputed sea 


Malacañang on Friday defended the Philippines’ joint patrols with the United States in the disputed South China Sea, rejecting the statement of China’s defense ministry that such action reflects a “Cold War mentality.”

“Matagal nang nagkakatulungan ang dalawang bansa, long before disputes on maritime entitlements in the West Philippine Sea came to the surface,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in a press briefing.

The Philippines refers to parts of the South China Sea as the West Philippine Sea. China, which is claiming almost the entire South China Sea believed to be rich in oil and natural gas.

Coloma cited the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the US in the 1950s, and the Visiting Forces Agreement in 1999.

“Ito lang sigurong EDCA ang nabuong kasunduaan doon sa panahon na mayroon ng mga issue hinggil diyan. Kaya kung ang tutuusin ay ‘yung pakikipag-uganayan ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos, ito naman ay matagal ng nariyan at matagal na nating pinapalakas,” Coloma said, referring to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

Under the EDCA, the US will be allowed to build structures, store as well as pre-position weapons, defense supplies and materiel, station troops, civilian personnel and defense contractors, transit and station vehicles, vessels, and aircraft for a period of 10 years.

Coloma also said the Balikatan military exercises were not triggered by any “third party.”

“Ito ay isang affirmative at focus initiative ng dalawang bansa na hindi bunsod lamang ng posisyon o ugnayan sa iba pang bansa. Ito ay matagal ng naririyan,” he said.

“Hindi natin masasabi na nagri-react lang ‘yan at binuo lang ‘yan dahil mayroong proyekto laban sa isang third party. Ang mahalaga dito ‘yung batayang prinsipyo ng dalawang bansa sa kanilang strategic partnership that is not triggered, or that is not unduly influenced by other parties,” Coloma added.

US Defense Secretary Ash Carter earlier announced an increased military presence in the Philippines.

A Reuters report said a contingent of US military aircraft and 200 US airmen from the US Pacific Air Forces would be at Clark Air Base, a former US Air Force base, through the end of the month.

In addition, up to 75 US troops, mostly Marines, would remain in the Philippines "on a rotational basis" after the conclusion of joint "Balikatan" US-Philippines military exercises this week. The troops would support "increased operations in the region," the Pentagon said. —KBK, GMA News

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