Philippines extends suspension of VFA termination, eyes long-term defence pact with US
- Manila has for the second time postponed its decision to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement that allows US troops to operate in the Southeast Asian nation
- The Philippine foreign ministry says President Duterte ordered the extension ‘in appreciative recognition’ of Washington’s part in keeping the South China Sea stable
The initial six-month suspension of the Philippines’ abrogation of the VFA was meant to expire in December, and the further six-month suspension announced on Wednesday means the new deadline will reach the early days of President-elect Joe Biden’s term.
“The past four years have changed the South China Sea from one of uncertainty about great powers’ intentions to one of predictability and resulting stability with regard to what can and cannot be done,” he said, making no specific mention of China’s recent assertiveness in the disputed waterway.
“A great deal of credit for the renewal of stability and security goes to deft diplomacy, unequivocal expressions of policy, sturdy postures of strength combined with unfailing tact, and pragmatic national security advice exhibited by both our governments in the same period.”
The Philippines is a treaty ally of the United States with several military agreements dependent on the VFA, which provides the legal framework for Washington’s troops to operate on a rotational basis in the Southeast Asian nation. Wednesday’s announcement was the first time Manila had formally told Washington that an abrogation of the VFA would not mean the end of military-to-military cooperation between the countries.
