US Senators Want More Joint US-PH Military Exercises To Counter Growing China Influence
MANILA -- The United States seeks to have more joint military exercises with the Philippines and other Asian countries as a means to counter the growing influence of China in the Asia-Pacific region, and as a response to the conflict in the West Philippine Sea.
This was the message of Senators John McCain (Arizona), Joseph Lieberman (Connecticut), Sheldon Whitehouse (Rhode Island), and Kelly Ayotte (New Hampshire), who are in the country to meet with President Benigno Aquino III, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.
Taking off from US President Barack Obama’s policy pronouncement that US defense budget will shift its focus from the Middle East to the Asia-Pacific region, McCain said the Philippines would be a key player in this change as the US considers it “important” and a “leader” in the region, noting the 60th anniversary of the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty this year.
“China was a subject of the discussion…While we see no confrontation with China, we emphasize that we will do what we need to do to protect freedom of navigation in the region…We will work with the ASEAN nations to maintain peace and stability here,” McCain said in a press conference at the US embassy after his meeting with the Philippine foreign secretary.
The US and the world are putting their focus back on Asia-Pacific as the world economy shifts to the region, McCain and Lieberman said. And for them, securing the region meant building up militarily.
McCain said a “strong military presence” of allied nations in the region will make China “achieve its goals peacefully.”
There must be a “strong alliance” of ASEAN nations as a foil to China’s growing military might, McCain said.
“We will not let the South China Sea dispute be settled by force or bullying, but by the ability to negotiate multilaterally and following the international rule of law,” Lieberman said.
“The best way to secure peace is to prepare for war,” Lieberman said, quoting a familiar saying.
