US mum on intervention in Phl-China sea dispute

WASHINGTON – The United States is mum on the circumstances under which it would intervene on behalf of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea even as US troops began a joint military exercise with Filipino soldiers off Palawan.

The US Congressional Research Service (CRS) said although both sides have denied that the activities are aimed specifically at China, Beijing has raised concern about their real purpose.

The CRS report, prepared for members and committees of Congress, said the Philippine-US Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) left room for different interpretations.

Some Philippine officials have suggested or sought assurances that the treaty obliges the US to come to the defense of the Philippines if China were to take disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea by force.

However, some interpretations limit US intervention to a foreign military attack on the main Philippine islands or upon Philippine military forces.

Although some US foreign policy analysts have expressed support for a stronger understanding, the Obama administration is not clear on circumstances under which the US armed forces would intervene to help the Philippines, said the CRS report written by Thomas Lum, an Asian affairs specialist.

Some foreign policy analysts in the region fear that an explicit US promise to invoke the MDT would raise rather than lower tensions, Lum said.

The foreign and defense secretaries of the Philippines and the US are meeting in Washington on April 30 to discuss among other things the maritime defense of the Philippines in the light of increasing tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

The CRS said in addition to equipment and training, US officials envision establishing a greater military presence in the country.

Given Philippine constitutional prohibitions and nationalistic sensitivities, the US desires to maintain a “light footprint,” and that with budget constraints, no permanent US bases or large-scale troop realignments are proposed.

It said options under discussion for enhanced security cooperation and US assistance include greater US access to Philippine ports and airfields for re-fueling and service of warships and planes, stationing of US warships and reconnaissance and other aircraft on rotational basis, increasing the number and frequency of joint military exercises, training, ship and aircraft visits, and related activities; increasing the number of US troops serving on a temporary basis, and purchase and leasing of US military ships and aircraft by the Philippines.