Edca a deterrent to war—bautista inquirer global nation
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The document discusses comments made by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista supporting the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) between the Philippines and United States. Bautista says Edca is a "creative way" to improve deterrence against security threats with US help, as the Philippines does not have capabilities on its own. Edca could allow more frequent joint military activities and US access to Philippine bases, enabling quicker response times. While criticized as infringing on sovereignty, Bautista believes Edca strengthens the allies' 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty by operationalizing US commitment to Philippine defense.
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Home > Global Nation > Features > Asia & Paci c > Edca a deterrent to war—Bautista
Edca a deterrent to war—Bautista
AFP chief: It’s creative way to counter threats
By Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
2:51 am | Sunday, May 25th, 2014
0 214RecommendRecommend
Philippine Military Chief Emmanuel Bautista. AP FILE
PHOTO
8e Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) is a “creative way” for the Philippine government to improve deterrence and face challenges to national
security with the help of an ally, the United States, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Sta> Gen. Emmanuel Bautista.
“We want to avoid con@ict, that is why we need to establish a credible deterrence. We don’t have the wherewithal to do that and so what is the practical solution for
us? It is to leverage on our alliance. We only have one treaty ally, that is the US,” Bautista told the Inquirer in an interview at the military’s headquarters on
Saturday.
“8ere are no [US military] bases here, so we have to nd creative ways to allow us to undertake (Mutual Defense Treaty)-related activities but would still aFrm the
provisions of the Constitution. 8at is the Edca,” Bautista said.
1 187 165
Edca a deterrent to war—Bautista | Inquirer Global Nation le:///C:/Users/Administrator/Downloads/Edca a deterrent to war—B…
1 of 5 5/31/2014 8:04 AM](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/edcaadeterrenttowarbautistainquirerglobalnation-140531003132-phpapp01/85/edca-a-deterrent-to-warbautista-inquirer-global-nation-1-320.jpg)
![8e Edca could have been bene cial to the Philippines during the March 29 rotation of troops and resupply mission of the military to Ayungin Shoal (Second
8omas Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea, which the China Coast Guard tried to block, had the security pact been operational at that time.
What’s possible with Edca
Journalists saw US planes @ying over the small government sheries vessel used by the Philippine Navy for the crucial mission to the BRP Sierra Madre, the rusting
naval ship manned by a small Marine garrison on the shoal.
Without con rming or denying help from the United States, Bautista said US planes usually seen in Philippine territory come from their base in Okinawa, Japan.
“When they get here, they can go around and @y for only a few minutes, then they should go back [to their base]. If they could land in Palawan and refuel there, can
you imagine how much longer they can stay around? 8at is possible under the Edca,” Bautista said.
With the Edca, Bautista said there would be more joint activities between the Philippine and US militaries to “demonstrate the alliance is alive and credible.”
8e Edca was hammered out for eight months by Filipino and American negotiators, and signed a few hours before US President Barack Obama arrived in Manila
for a state visit on April 28.
Criticisms of the agreement range from its supposed unconstitutionality to being lopsided in favor of the Americans to surrendering the country’s sovereignty for
allowing the United States to put up military bases in the guise of sharing space in select AFP camps.
Biggest bene!t
Bautista, who is retiring on July 20, stands by the agreement, saying it should be understood in the context of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the
Philippines and the United States.
“Our biggest bene t [from the Edca] is its strategic feature. 8e Edca is not a stand-alone agreement. It is [meant] to operationalize the MDT, which serves as a
deterrence to any armed aggression,” Bautista said.
“How do we allow them (the United States) to help us during calamities [or an] invasion? How will they help us when we do not allow them to come here? How
will they defend us if we don’t allow them to come here?” he said.
8e agreement, Bautista said, would put the Americans “in a bePer position to defend us.”
“We want to increase the tempo, we want more exercises,” he said.
‘Deepened’ cooperation
8e Edca is taken within Article 2 of the MDT, which states that the Philippines and the United States “separately and jointly by self-help and mutual aid will
maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed aPack.”
8e “deepened” defense cooperation would deal with the AFP’s “short-term capabilities gaps, [promote] long-term modernization and help maintain and develop
additional maritime security, maritime domain awareness and humanitarian and disaster relief capabilities.”
Signed in 1951, the MDT is the bedrock of the military alliance between the two countries. 8e agreement binds them to a commitment to help each other when one
comes under an external armed aPack.
8e treaty is a public and formal declaration of the two countries’ “unity and their common determination to defend themselves against external armed aPack, so
that no potential aggressor can be under the illusion that either of them stands alone in the Paci c area.”
Obama himself quoted this paragraph from the MDT when he addressed Filipino and American troops on April 29, declaring that the United States’ commitment to
defend the Philippines was “ironclad.”
Fourth security deal
Bautista said the Edca was the fourth security agreement signed by the Philippines and the United States that facilitates the implementation of the MDT.
Before the Edca, there were the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) and the Military Assistance Agreement (MAA).
8e VFA governs the status of US troops in the Philippines as well as deals with the two countries’ military cooperation against nontraditional security threats, such
as terrorism and environmental disasters.
8e MLSA provides for the logistical cooperation between the two militaries as they intensify their cooperation and ability to work together.
8e 1947 MAA formalized the US commitment to assist in the development of the AFP. It also established the Joint US Military Assistance Group.
Faster disaster response
He said the agreement permits the US military to rotate troops and equipment in selected AFP bases for more frequent joint military activities, including dealing
with traditional and nontraditional threats such as climate change.
Bautista said the US response to Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) in November last year could have been faster had there been US planes in
AFP bases.
Although it has been signed, the Edca will be implemented only aTer the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) approves the activities
proposed under the new agreement.
Bautista said the MDB-SEB, comprised of top Philippine and US defense and military oFcials, would meet in September or October.
He will have retired by then.
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2 of 5 5/31/2014 8:04 AM](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
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- 1. news sports lifestyle entertainment business technology opinion global nation Philippines Asia & Paci c Americas Middle East & Africa Europe Global Pinoy Columnists Events Latest Stories Stevenson unanimously outpoints Fonfara End of world is near. Free book. Know what is coming.Giant planet is approaching Earth. hercolubus.tv Ads by Google End of world is near. Free book. Know what is coming.Giant planet is approaching Earth. hercolubus.tv Ads by Google Home > Global Nation > Features > Asia & Paci c > Edca a deterrent to war—Bautista Edca a deterrent to war—Bautista AFP chief: It’s creative way to counter threats By Nikko Dizon Philippine Daily Inquirer 2:51 am | Sunday, May 25th, 2014 0 214RecommendRecommend Philippine Military Chief Emmanuel Bautista. AP FILE PHOTO 8e Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) is a “creative way” for the Philippine government to improve deterrence and face challenges to national security with the help of an ally, the United States, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Sta> Gen. Emmanuel Bautista. “We want to avoid con@ict, that is why we need to establish a credible deterrence. We don’t have the wherewithal to do that and so what is the practical solution for us? It is to leverage on our alliance. We only have one treaty ally, that is the US,” Bautista told the Inquirer in an interview at the military’s headquarters on Saturday. “8ere are no [US military] bases here, so we have to nd creative ways to allow us to undertake (Mutual Defense Treaty)-related activities but would still aFrm the provisions of the Constitution. 8at is the Edca,” Bautista said. 1 187 165 Edca a deterrent to war—Bautista | Inquirer Global Nation le:///C:/Users/Administrator/Downloads/Edca a deterrent to war—B… 1 of 5 5/31/2014 8:04 AM
- 2. 8e Edca could have been bene cial to the Philippines during the March 29 rotation of troops and resupply mission of the military to Ayungin Shoal (Second 8omas Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea, which the China Coast Guard tried to block, had the security pact been operational at that time. What’s possible with Edca Journalists saw US planes @ying over the small government sheries vessel used by the Philippine Navy for the crucial mission to the BRP Sierra Madre, the rusting naval ship manned by a small Marine garrison on the shoal. Without con rming or denying help from the United States, Bautista said US planes usually seen in Philippine territory come from their base in Okinawa, Japan. “When they get here, they can go around and @y for only a few minutes, then they should go back [to their base]. If they could land in Palawan and refuel there, can you imagine how much longer they can stay around? 8at is possible under the Edca,” Bautista said. With the Edca, Bautista said there would be more joint activities between the Philippine and US militaries to “demonstrate the alliance is alive and credible.” 8e Edca was hammered out for eight months by Filipino and American negotiators, and signed a few hours before US President Barack Obama arrived in Manila for a state visit on April 28. Criticisms of the agreement range from its supposed unconstitutionality to being lopsided in favor of the Americans to surrendering the country’s sovereignty for allowing the United States to put up military bases in the guise of sharing space in select AFP camps. Biggest bene!t Bautista, who is retiring on July 20, stands by the agreement, saying it should be understood in the context of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the Philippines and the United States. “Our biggest bene t [from the Edca] is its strategic feature. 8e Edca is not a stand-alone agreement. It is [meant] to operationalize the MDT, which serves as a deterrence to any armed aggression,” Bautista said. “How do we allow them (the United States) to help us during calamities [or an] invasion? How will they help us when we do not allow them to come here? How will they defend us if we don’t allow them to come here?” he said. 8e agreement, Bautista said, would put the Americans “in a bePer position to defend us.” “We want to increase the tempo, we want more exercises,” he said. ‘Deepened’ cooperation 8e Edca is taken within Article 2 of the MDT, which states that the Philippines and the United States “separately and jointly by self-help and mutual aid will maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed aPack.” 8e “deepened” defense cooperation would deal with the AFP’s “short-term capabilities gaps, [promote] long-term modernization and help maintain and develop additional maritime security, maritime domain awareness and humanitarian and disaster relief capabilities.” Signed in 1951, the MDT is the bedrock of the military alliance between the two countries. 8e agreement binds them to a commitment to help each other when one comes under an external armed aPack. 8e treaty is a public and formal declaration of the two countries’ “unity and their common determination to defend themselves against external armed aPack, so that no potential aggressor can be under the illusion that either of them stands alone in the Paci c area.” Obama himself quoted this paragraph from the MDT when he addressed Filipino and American troops on April 29, declaring that the United States’ commitment to defend the Philippines was “ironclad.” Fourth security deal Bautista said the Edca was the fourth security agreement signed by the Philippines and the United States that facilitates the implementation of the MDT. Before the Edca, there were the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) and the Military Assistance Agreement (MAA). 8e VFA governs the status of US troops in the Philippines as well as deals with the two countries’ military cooperation against nontraditional security threats, such as terrorism and environmental disasters. 8e MLSA provides for the logistical cooperation between the two militaries as they intensify their cooperation and ability to work together. 8e 1947 MAA formalized the US commitment to assist in the development of the AFP. It also established the Joint US Military Assistance Group. Faster disaster response He said the agreement permits the US military to rotate troops and equipment in selected AFP bases for more frequent joint military activities, including dealing with traditional and nontraditional threats such as climate change. Bautista said the US response to Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) in November last year could have been faster had there been US planes in AFP bases. Although it has been signed, the Edca will be implemented only aTer the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) approves the activities proposed under the new agreement. Bautista said the MDB-SEB, comprised of top Philippine and US defense and military oFcials, would meet in September or October. He will have retired by then. RELATED STORIES ‘EDCA will make make PH the biggest US military base in the world’ Edca a deterrent to war—Bautista | Inquirer Global Nation le:///C:/Users/Administrator/Downloads/Edca a deterrent to war—B… 2 of 5 5/31/2014 8:04 AM
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