East Asia Pacific
Philippines Looking to Reverse Course on Scrapping US Military Pact
By Ralph Jennings
November 27, 2020 09:28 AM
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TAIPEI, TAIWAN - The Philippines, an old American ally in Asia, is changing its view on whether to scrap a key U.S. military pact, as it explores new ways of benefiting from U.S. defense aid without isolating its newer superpower friend, China, analysts and officials say.
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte this month announced that cancelling the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) would be suspended for another six months, which lets U.S. troops access Philippine soil for military exercises aimed at regional security as well as local humanitarian work. Philippine presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Thursday that in six more months “we will know†the president’s decision.
The first suspension was announced in June, four months after Manila said it would fully withdraw from the 21-year-old pact.
By Ralph Jennings
November 27, 2020 09:28 AM
