Way back in 1999, after completing my MA thesis that used the South China Sea dispute between China and ASEAN states (primarily focusing on the Philippines from among the ASEAN states), Ross Marlay (my MA Thesis supervisor) and I co-authored a piece that was picked up as part of an edited volume of case studies about Asian security post-Cold War. In the published book chapter we laid out the claims and actions of claimants to the Paracel and Spratly Islands through 1998 and focused on the conflict between China and the Philippines over the Spratly Islands. In our conclusions we offered the following:
2. Renewed military ties with the United States? The Philippine senate's decision not to renew the Mutual Security Treaty with Washington meant, among other things, the termination of all American military aid. Joint exercises are still conducted with U.S. forces once a year...Manila and Washington denied that this [recent exercise] was intended as a signal to China, but of course it was exactly that... (Marlay and Stanton, 1999. "China vs. the Philippines in the South China Sea," in Head and Clausen, Eds. Weaving a New Tapestry, pp. 153.)
Well, it only took 15 years for it to happen, but hey what do we call this: "Will New Defense Pact Impact US Support for Philippines in Sea Disputes?" The agreement (Enhanced Defense Coopeartion Agreement) allows the U.S. to store equipment at select installations (Subic Bay, Clarke Air Base) for the next 10 years. The agreement will also, as you can read in the above article create more bilateral military exercises.
Now, of course, my next question is whether or not this action is the best action for the U.S. to take if our actions are targeting Chinese economic and military growth in the region as antithetical to U.S. interests in the region. For my two cents, I am simply not so sure that direct action versus other forms of security maintenance are best given U.S. interests, more on that at a later date. For now, just glad that I actually saw something coming years ago.
2. Renewed military ties with the United States? The Philippine senate's decision not to renew the Mutual Security Treaty with Washington meant, among other things, the termination of all American military aid. Joint exercises are still conducted with U.S. forces once a year...Manila and Washington denied that this [recent exercise] was intended as a signal to China, but of course it was exactly that... (Marlay and Stanton, 1999. "China vs. the Philippines in the South China Sea," in Head and Clausen, Eds. Weaving a New Tapestry, pp. 153.)
Well, it only took 15 years for it to happen, but hey what do we call this: "Will New Defense Pact Impact US Support for Philippines in Sea Disputes?" The agreement (Enhanced Defense Coopeartion Agreement) allows the U.S. to store equipment at select installations (Subic Bay, Clarke Air Base) for the next 10 years. The agreement will also, as you can read in the above article create more bilateral military exercises.
Now, of course, my next question is whether or not this action is the best action for the U.S. to take if our actions are targeting Chinese economic and military growth in the region as antithetical to U.S. interests in the region. For my two cents, I am simply not so sure that direct action versus other forms of security maintenance are best given U.S. interests, more on that at a later date. For now, just glad that I actually saw something coming years ago.
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