Philippines formally ends Visiting Forces Agreement with US

[adroth]

Administrator's note: See corresponding discussion on the forum's FB extension: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rpdefense/permalink/2688272401258590/


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Philippines formally ends Visiting Forces Agreement with US
By Eimor Santos, CNN Philippines
Published Feb 11, 2020 1:09:21 PM

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/2/11/Philippines-ends-VFA-United-States.html

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11) — The Philippines has finally sent the United States a notice to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement, marking the start of the 180-day period from when the two-decade military pact will be effectively scrapped.

Malacañang on Tuesday confirmed that the document has been signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Tedoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin, Jr. and sent to the US government.

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After the Palace's press conference, Locsin announced on Twitter that Deputy Chief of Mission John Law of the US Embassy in Manila has received the notice of termination.

"As a diplomatic courtesy there will be no further factual announcements following this self-explanatory development," Locsin said.

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[Manokski]

Classic case of cutting off the nose to spite the face.  Gross overreaction to a simple diplomatic issue.
Pull up a chair and bring a stiff drink.  The ride is going to get more interesting.

[sirius]

https://twitter.com/teddyboylocsin/status/1227094975634006016

it's not over until it formally expires. i think this is the philippines taking a page out of The Art of the Deal and I applaud them for it.

[hotandwild]

Even the termination of VFA, US still offering military equipment for our military.

https://www.onenews.ph/us-offering-a-dozen-second-hand-aircraft-to-the-philippine-army

February 11, 2020

[LionFlyer]

Classic case of cutting off the nose to spite the face.  Gross overreaction to a simple diplomatic issue.
Pull up a chair and bring a stiff drink.  The ride is going to get more interesting.

I don't see this as an reaction but using the issue as a convenient excuse to take this action. It has always been on the cards.

[adroth]

We also have to remember that root of the “over-reaction” was a passive-aggressive rebuke of official government policy on the war on drugs. Right or wrong the PH had to make a response.

The US, in turn, cannot appear to cave.

https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-says-he-doesnt-mind-if-philippines-ends-military-pact-2020-2

That being said, the PH is well aware of the value of the VFA. As mayor Duterte know all too well what the US presence in Davao did for it. This is now a game of chicken. On the backend . . . the scramble for a face saving way out begin.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-usa-defence/philippines-duterte-says-trump-deserves-to-be-re-elected-idUSKBN2090FL

[adroth]

VFA termination 'reboot' of PH-US military ties - diplomat
ABS-CBN News
Posted at Feb 18 2020 07:25 PM

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/18/20/vfa-termination-reboot-of-ph-us-military-ties-diplomat

MANILA - Scrapping the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) is a "reboot" of long-standing military ties between the Philippines and the United States, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel "Babes" Romualdez said Tuesday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the US-Philippines Society meeting, he said it would be "premature" to call the relationship between the two allies "damaged" and to speculate over repercussions on other military pacts between the Philippines and US- the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Romualdez said that while the VFA is an important document, it only covered the military relationship of the Philippines and United States.

What is important is that the overall relationship that spans decades remains strong, he added.

Romualdez said he would continue to engage with Washington to ensure its relations with Manila remain intact.

He, along with Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., "will continue to do what we have to do in terms of assuring our friends in Washington, D.C. the relationship will remain intact, and we will continue to make sure it remains that way," Romualdez said.

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[adroth]

'Exploratory' talks for a new PH-US defense pact part of 'diplomacy': Panelo
Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News

Posted at Mar 02 2020 04:55 PM

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/02/20/exploratory-talks-for-a-new-ph-us-defense-pact-part-of-diplomacy-panelo

MANILA - Talks of a new military deal between representatives of the Philippines and the United States are only "exploratory" in nature as part of diplomacy, Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Monday.

President Rodrigo Duterte remains firm in his push for a self-reliant military, Panelo said even after Manila's envoy to Washington confirmed ongoing discussions on a new Visiting Forces Agreement between the two countries.

"All of those are exploratory talks...That's diplomacy," Panelo said of Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez' recent statement that he and US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim were looking into Manila's defense agreements with Japan and Australia as possible templates for a new deal.

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Romualdez said last week that he and Kim were "in the process of trying to find ways and means to be able to see how" the two countries can come up with a new accord," yet, "still following (Duterte's) thinking about the sovereignty issue.".

The new "improved" deal, according to Romualdez, will be recommended to Duterte.

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[adroth]

Senate adopts resolution questioning Duterte power to solely end treaties

The Senate leadership intends to ask the Supreme Court this week to rule on whether President Rodrigo Duterte can end treaties such as the PH-US Visiting Forces Agreement without Senate concurrence
Aika Rey
@reyaika
Published 6:53 PM, March 02, 2020
Updated 6:53 PM, March 02, 2020

https://www.rappler.com/nation/253194-senate-resolution-questioning-duterte-power-to-solely-end-treaties

MANILA, Philippines – Voting 12-0-8, the Senate on Monday, March 2, crossed party lines and adopted Senate Resolution No. 337, seeking to ask the Supreme Court to rule on the need for Senate concurrence in treaty termination.

This would be the basis for the filing of a petition, possibly on Thursday, March 5, of a petition before the High Court, led by no less than Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

President Rodrigo Duterte will be "impleaded as a formal party" in the petition, according to opposition Senator Franklin Drilon, because it was Duterte who ordered the termination of the PH-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) without Senate concurrence.

The constitutional question was triggered by the Philippine government's notice of termination of the VFA, which the Senate earlier said should just be reviewed first.

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[adroth]

Philippines suspends abrogation of Visiting Forces Agreement with US
Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jun 02 2020 08:44 PM | Updated as of Jun 02 2020 09:48 PM

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/02/20/philippines-suspends-abrogation-of-visiting-forces-agreement-with-us

MANILA (UPDATE) - The Philippines suspended on Monday the abrogation of its Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. said Tuesday.

In a diplomatic note to the US Embassy dated June 1, 2020, Locsin, said that the suspension is being made “in light of political and other developments in the region.”

On Twitter, Locsin said the suspension is being made upon the instruction of President Rodrigo Duterte. He added the note has been received by Washington.

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