PRESS RELEASE
Department of
Foreign Affairs
2330 Roxas Blvd.,
Pasay City, Philippines
* Tel.
No. 834-4000 *
www.dfa.gov.ph
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 279-03; 06 June
2003
US BASES
NOT AN ELEMENT OF RP-US STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP – OPLE
Although the strategic and security relationship between the Philippines
and the United States has moved forward during the administration of President
Arroyo, the establishment of US bases in the Philippines is not an element
of this relationship, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople.
“Both our countries have a clear idea of what we want and what we expect
in our strategic relationship. The establishment of US bases in the
Philippines is not even contemplated in this relationship. In fact,
our defense and military planning and cooperation with the US, the cornerstone
of which is the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), is premised on the non-existence
of US bases in the Philippines,” the Secretary said.
Giving a specific example, Secretary Ople said that “all planning and preparation
for a possible invocation of the MDT, is based on a very fundamental fact
that there are no US bases in the Philippines. This fact is a basic
factor in all preparations and this fact will not change.” He added
that the Philippine Constitution is clear on this matter.
Secretary Ople made these clarifications after some news reports said that
there was a plan to reposition US forces that could include moving 15,000
of the 20,000 Marines now in Okinawa, Japan to bases in Australia and an
increased US military presence in Singapore and Malaysia.
“I agree that US presence and engagement in the region is an important stabilizing
factor. During the Cold War, the Philippines carried the burden of contributing
to the stability of our region by hosting the US bases, to the benefit of
everyone else in the region. Perhaps it is time for other countries to share
this burden,” Secretary Ople said. END