A feature on a very serious, complicated and hotly-debated issue such as the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the Unites States is perhaps one of the most difficult to write. I therefore decided that it would be best to get the materials on this from the authorities like the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of National Defense.

 

One of the most controversial issues in the country at present is the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), between the United States of America and the Philippines. EDCA was signed on April 28, 2014 in Manila, the Philippines. Philippine Defense Secretary, Voltaire Gazmin and U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, Philip Goldberg signed the agreement during an official state visit by U.S. President Barack Obama. The ten-year accord is the first substantial military agreement between the U.S. and the Philippines since American troops withdrew from the Subic Bay naval base in 1992.

 

Let us trace the series of changes in the defense treaty.

 

Mutual Defense Treaty

The Mutual Defense Treaty was signed in 1951 and ratified in 1952 by the governments of the United States and the Philippines. The purpose of the Treaty was to “strengthen the fabric of peace” in the Pacific, by formally adopting an agreement to defend each other’s territory in the case of external attack. In line with this treaty, the United States maintained several military bases in the Philippines, including Subic Bay Naval Base and the Clark Air Base. In 1992, the bases closed after the Philippine Senate rejected a treaty that would extend the bases' lease by a close vote. The treaty was rejected because of U.S. reluctance to set a firm time frame for troop withdrawal and to guarantee that no nuclear weapons would pass through the base.

 

Visiting Forces Agreement

The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) was signed by the governments of the Philippines and the United States in 1998, and came in to effect in 1999. This was the first military agreement since the closing of U.S. bases in 1992. The VFA outlined a set of guidelines for the conduct and protection of American troops visiting the Philippines. The Agreement also stipulated the terms and conditions for American military to pass through or land in Philippine territory. The VFA is a reciprocal agreement in that not only does it outline the guidelines for U.S. troops visiting the Philippines but also for Philippine troops visiting the United States.

 

The Agreement led to the establishment of annual bilateral military exercises between the U.S. and the Philippine known as Balikatan, as well as a variety of other cooperative measures. The Balikatan training exercises (“shoulder-to-shoulder”) are annual military exercises between the U.S. and the Philippines. They are structured to maintain and develop the security relationship between the two countries’ armed forces through crisis-action planning, enhanced training to conduct counterterrorism operations, and promoting interoperability of the forces.

 

In addition, the question and answer portion that follows would be able to retain the attention of readers well.

 

Here it goes, a simplified feature on EDCA:

1. What is the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA)?

The EDCA is an agreement between the Philippines and the United States which is envisioned to advance the implementation of the Philippine-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).

 

2. What is the purpose of EDCA?

The EDCA is designed to promote the following between the Philippines and its defense treaty ally the United States:

•Interoperability

•Capacity building towards AFP modernization

•Strengthening AFP for external defense

•Maritime security

•Maritime domain awareness

•Humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR)

 

3. How will these objectives be achieved?

The two signatory countries are currently holding joint training exercises, such as the Balikatan, and undertaking humanitarian assistance and disaster relief cooperation activities like during the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

 

Additional cooperation by way of (1) Construction of facilities and infrastructure upgrades; and (2) Storage and prepositioning of defense and HADR equipment, supplies and material will be undertaken.

 

4. Where will the construction and prepositioning take place?

These will take place in designated areas within a few AFP bases to be agreed upon by both Parties.

 

5. What principles were adhered to in ensuring that the national interests are protected and advanced?

Upon the instructions of the President, the following principles were observed:

•Strict compliance with the Philippine Constitution, laws and jurisprudence;

•Utmost respect for Philippine sovereignty;

•Requirement for Philippine consent for all activities;

•No permanent presence or base by US troops in the Philippines;

•Full Philippine control over facilities to be used;

•Mutuality of benefits;

•Non-exclusivity of use of the designated areas for US armed forces;

•Enhancement of AFP capabilities through joint training exercises;

•Prohibition of nuclear weapons; and,

•US commitment for long-term AFP capability build-up.

 

6. What are the main features of EDCA?

Consistent with the President’s guidelines, the agreement has the following main features:

•Clear provision that the US would “not establish a permanent military presence or base in the Philippines”;

•US access to and use of designated areas in AFP owned and controlled facilities (“Agreed Locations”) will be at the invitation of the Philippine Government;

•Prior consent of the Philippines, through the Mutual Defense Board (MDB) and Security Engagement Board (SEB), with regard to US access and use of Agreed Locations which may be listed in an annex and further described in implementing arrangements;

•Philippines retention of primary responsibility for security of the Agreed Locations;

•Access of the AFP base commander to the entire area of the Agreed Locations;

•Philippine ownership of buildings and infrastructure once constructed by US military;

•Sharing and joint use of facilities in the Agreed Locations, including those built by the US military;

•Value of prepositioned materiel in the enhancement of AFP defense capabilities and possible transfer or purchase of materiel determined to be excess;

•Prohibition of entry to the Philippines of nuclear weapons, and reference to respective obligations of both Parties under the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention;

•Strong commitment by both Parties in protecting the environment, human health and safety;

•Preference for Philippine suppliers of goods, products and service in US military procurement; and,

•Regular consultation on the implementation of the agreement.