The Philippine Online Chronicles

A nationalist Chinese newspaper called on Sunday for economic sanction against the Philippines after news of ever-increasing military ties with the United States.

Global Times, which is being published by the Communist Party’s People’s Daily, said in an editorial that China must pressure the Philippine government into dropping their military agreements with the US.

China and the Philippines are both claimants in the territorial dispute involving the Spratlys Islands in the South China Sea. The US has been accused of meddling in the dispute for its own economic interests.

"Well-measured sanctions against the Philippines will make it ponder the choice of losing a friend such as China and being a vain partner with the US,” the editorial said.

The Chinese government, on the other hand, has yet to officially comment on the earlier announcement that the Philippines will be holding more joint exercises with US troops.

Besides the Spratlys claim, the US is allegedly posturing in the Asia amid China’s continuing rise in the global economy.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the second Bilateral Strategic Dialogue with the US was not about the territorial dispute over Spratlys but about efforts against terrorism.

“Our defense capability should include patrolling our seas. Our existing ships are in need of an upgrade,” she said.

Spy planes over PH

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the US had offered to deploy spy or surveillance planes in the Philippines as part of their military cooperation.

“Now that we have a good neighbor in the block, we can no longer be bullied,” Gazmin said.

He added, "I would rather look at it from the positive point of view that there would be stability in the region, that we would have enough deterrent. Without a deterrent force, we can be easily pushed around, our territories will be violated. Now that we have a good neighbour on the block, we can no longer be bullied.”

Earlier, US President Barack Obama said they are going to expand US military presence in Asia and the Pacific amid China’s growing military power.

Gazmin was among the officials included in the two-day talk in Washington.

He confirmed the offer for surveillance aircrafts but denied that there were any plans for new US bases.

Communications Secretary Ramon “Ricky” Carandang said, “None of these initiatives involve any kind of basing arrangements similar to what we had prior to 1991. Hindi po tayo nag-iisip na magbalik ng US bases similar to Subic and Clark prior to 1991.”

However, Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said, "They say that they will not bring back the US bases but the proposal aims for virtual basing just the same.”

“We should not allow our country to be a military outpost of the US for the latter’s hegemonic interests…having US troops surround the Philippines is not an assurance of peace in the region. Quite the contrary, it will only serve to provoke China and increase tensions in the region,” Reyes said in a statement.

It was in 1992 that the US forces pulled out of the country after a vote from the Philippine Senate suspending the bases treaty with the US. However, six years later, the Philippine government and the US signed a Visiting Forces Agreement that allows US troops to visit the country for training exercises and even recreation.