Philippines say increase in US troops will not be permanent

Philippine officials said on Monday they will make sure that an increased presence of US troops in the country does not become permanent and is meant to help the Philippines modernise its military, which is being challenged by China in territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Philippine and US officials will open talks on Wednesday in Manila on an accord to increase rotations of American troops, said chief government negotiator Carlos Sorreta. Hundreds of American troops already have been stationed in the volatile southern Philippines for counter-terrorism training since 2001. The new agreement is expected to increase their numbers and allow them to preposition equipment, officials said.

At a news conference, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario and Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin presented the Philippines’ negotiators, who will meet with the Americans. They did not mention China by name but have repeatedly stressed in the past that their country needs to upgrade its military to defend its territorial waters in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims virtually in its entirety.

“Our region needs to know that we are steadfastly for peace,” del Rosario said. “But that we stand ready to tap every resource, to call on every alliance, to do what is necessary, to defend what is ours, to secure our nation and to keep our people safe.”

Gazmin said the wider US presence will not be permanent and will comply with the constitution, which bans the basing of foreign troops. It would also mean more resources and training for responding to disasters in a nation often battered by typhoons and earthquakes.