http://www.reuters
Just like Rome seige Carthage . Because support of
strong alliance , Rome republic finally defeated Hannibal.
(Reuters) - The United States and the Philippines begin formal negotiations this week to increase rotational presence of U.S. forces in the former U.S. colony, deploying aircraft, ships, supplies and troops for humanitarian and maritime security operations.
The widening military cooperation, that includes the use of local bases for temporary deployment, signals rapidly warming security relations between the allies as the Philippines looks to the United States to help counter a newly assertive China.
"We stand ready to tap every resource, to call on every alliance to do what is necessary to defend what is ours, to secure our nation and to keep our people safe," Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosatio told a news conference at the main army base in Manila.
Del Rosario said the security framework agreement would improve maritime security while the military builds up its own capability for territorial defense.
The talks coincide with a resurgence of U.S. warships, planes and personnel in the region as Washington turns its attention to China and shifts its foreign, economic and security policy towards Asia.
Friction between China and the Philippines, and other countries in the region, over disputed territories in the oil and gas rich sea has surged since last year due to several naval stand-offs and fraying diplomatic efforts to forge a regional agreement on maritime conduct.
REFASHIONED ALLIANCE
Actual negotiations for a new agreement begin on Wednesday in Manila and both sides hope to conclude talks this year, or after four rounds of discussions, Carlos Sorreta, head of the American desk at the foreign ministry, said.
"It's not a basing agreement," Sorreta, spokesman for the four-member negotiating team, told a news conference.
The Philippines kicked out U.S. military bases in 1992 and years later allowed the return of American troops for training and joint exercises. The new deal will expand these activities.
The allies have been in talks since 2011, even before President Barack Obama announced his administration's "pivot to Asia" policy as Washington withdraws from Iraq and Afghanistan.
"These negotiations will lead to incremental security benefits and cooperation rather than a fundamental shift in the regional military balance of power," Patrick Cronin, of the U.S-based Center for a New American Security, told Reuters. "These talks are an important symbol of a refashioned alliance."
Cronin said the upgrading of the alliance "will serve the interests of both nations and the region", adding the pre-positioned equipment would improve readiness to deal with natural disasters and other contingencies.
Left-wing activists criticized the Aquino government for allowing a de facto basing agreement with the Americans. "The Philippines will be one giant weapons depot for U.S. forces," said Renato Reyes of Bayan (Nation), an umbrella organization of anti-U.S. activist groups.
Philippine officials said the new military agreement did not need any approval from lawmakers, but the negotiating team promised to brief Congress and the press at the end of every round of talks.
Sorreta insisted the new deal would not give U.S. forces exclusive use of local facilities or a permanent presence.
"We are engaging in this exercise of negotiations not to please the United States, but in pursuit of our own interests," said Carlos Sorreta, foreign affairs assistant secretary for American affairs. "We are certainly for peace, but we are not for appeasement."
(Reporting By Manuel Mogato; Editing by Nick Macfie)
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http://www.libertytimes
2013-8-17
牽制中國 美菲擬共用巴拉望基地
增兵南沙群島 年底前可望簽協議
〔編譯林翠儀／綜合報導〕日本共同社十六日報導，美軍計畫在南沙群島附近部署兵力，美菲雙方可望在年底前簽定增派兵力的新協議，共同使用巴拉望島的菲軍基地。
共同社指出，美軍正在探討將南沙群島附近的巴拉望島設為其前沿基地之一。由於中菲兩國南海主權爭端日趨激化，美軍將巴拉望島視為「最前線」。
從諸多跡象顯示，美軍進駐菲律賓除了是美國重返亞洲戰略的一環之外，也涉及駐日美軍重新整編問題，面對中國擴大東海及南海權益，日菲近期互動密切，兩國以美國為後盾牽制中國的圍堵策略儼然成形，未來甚至無法排除日本自衛隊進駐菲律賓的可能性。
菲國憲法雖然禁止外國軍隊永久駐紮，但一九九九年菲美簽定協議，允許美軍暫時訪問菲律賓。雙方從十四日起就美軍增派在菲輪替兵力於馬尼拉展開第一輪協商，預定在八月下旬於美國華府進行第二輪討論，預料最快將在年底前簽定。
菲國主談的外交事務主管國防事務次長索瑞塔（Carlos Sorreta）十六日表示，政府不會准許美軍在菲設立基地，但可在菲軍控管區內安置軍事設備。
部分駐日美軍 擬移防至菲國
事實上，日本媒體去年報導駐日美軍重新整編問題時，即曾提及美軍駐沖繩陸戰隊移防關島的腹案中，美方有意將部分兵力移至菲律賓，當時的候選地點包括巴拉望島和呂宋島。產經新聞去年四月也報導，美菲已就美軍陸戰隊進駐巴拉望島烏爾根（Ulgan）基地達成初步共識。駐日美軍陸戰隊員移至菲國基地，除符合美菲利益之外，日本也因此進一步與菲國拉近關係。日本去年四月首次參加了美菲年度「肩並肩聯合軍演」。
