RP, US to begin scaled-down military exercises today

Philippine and US troops will begin a scaled-down version of their annual joint military exercises, officials said yesterday, amid rising tension between the United States and China.

The Pentagon sent 1,700 soldiers, 300 fewer than usual, to take part in the maneuvers, which start today and end on May 10.

However, US officials played down the reduction in troops, denying that it was the result of a deterioration in Sino-US relations.

"This has nothing to do with the recent developments with China and Taiwan, but merely between the two players the United States and the Philippines," US charge d’affaires Michael Malinowski said in a speech at the exercises’ opening ceremony at the Armed Forces headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Vice President Teofisto Guingona said the war games would boost the country’s defense capabilities.

"Our main concern is to share in technology, tactics, maneuvers so that we can better defend ourselves" under the terms of a 1951 mutual defense pact between Manila and Washington.

Unlike in previous years, the two armies will not use live ammunition.

"There will be no live-fire exercise because of the sensitivity to the (May 14 Philippine general) elections," US military spokeswoman Lt. Col. Ann Freed told reporters.

"This will be a very much scaled-down exercise," she added.

The joint exercises come in a period of heightened tension between the United States and China following US President George W. Bush’s announcement of arms sales to Taiwan and a subsequent pledge to defend the island against Chinese attacks.

The two sides are also locked in an ugly row over the April 1 collision between a Chinese fighter jet and an $80-billion US spy plane, which China is still refusing to return.

There have also been strong disagreements over human rights, China’s detention of US-based academics and the sale of sensitive radar equipment to Iraq. – Paolo Romero