Joker: How about war games in Mischief?

Sen. Joker Arroyo asked defense and military officials yesterday to study the possibility of holding joint Philippine-US military exercises on contested islands in the South China Sea such as Mischief Reef which the Philippines is claiming.

At the joint Senate hearing on the RP-US Balikatan exercises in Zamboanga City and Basilan, Arroyo urged Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes and Gen. Diomedio Villanueva, Armed Forces chief, to conduct joint exercises in the Spratlys.

Reyes and Villanueva reminded the Senate that China has been occupying Mischief Reef, called Panganiban Reef by the Philippines, since 1995. The two countries have resolved to settle the overlapping claims peacefully.

Arroyo said it made more sense to conduct the joint military exercises in Philippine territory being taken over by a foreign country rather than in Basilan and Zamboanga.

He contended that it is doubtful whether the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) covers the participation of American troops in the campaign against the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf.

On the other hand, he maintained that the MDT could be invoked in the case of intrusions by foreign military in Philippine territory. The treaty provides that an attack on either the Philippines or the United States would be considered as an attack on the other contracting party and would entail immediate military assistance.

Arroyo said that a military exercise in the Kalayaan or Panganiban Reef would be significant demonstration of the willingness of the United States to help the Philippines fight any external aggression.

He lamented that not once had the United States invoked the treaty since it was ratified in 1947.

Arroyo pointed out that two years ago, the US Seventh Fleet steamed into the Formosa Strait in a show of support for Taiwan and to warn China against pursuing any "adventurist" undertaking.

There were fears then that China would take over Taiwan, which was threatening to transform itself into an independent state, instead of being a mere province of China as recognized by almost all countries in the world.

"The United States is willing to help us fight the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan, when there is doubt that this is covered by the Mutual Defense Treaty. I hope the US can help us in Panganiban Reef, which involves invasion of a Philippine territory," Arroyo said.

Reyes replied that the Philippines might want to hold joint military exercises in the contested islands but these could not be held if the United States is unwilling. He stressed that the agreement of the United States is needed before a joint military exercise could be held.

The Spratlys are being claimed in whole or in part by the Philippines, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and Brunei.