US getting caught up in Philippines-China conflict

Manila: The intensification of more than a month-long standoff between the Philippines and China on Scarborough Shoal, near south Luzon, has fast-tracked a subtle confrontation between China and the US, affecting the Philippine economy and challenging the stability of the 10-member countries of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), a political expert said.

?The standoff has frosted Philippine-China relations, affecting Philippine economy. It could also challenge Asean?s unity,? predicted political analyst Prospero de Vera.

At the same time, Manila?s timely hosting of senior officials meeting of the US and Asean on May 20 to 22 symbolically firmed up Manila?s role in strengthening Asean-US partnership, said de Vera.

The Philippines has been coordinating the Asean-US dialogue since 2009.

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The Manila meeting reviewed Asean-US relations, recommended future actions to enhance cooperation on regional and global issues, and specified actions to implement the Joint Declaration on enhanced Asean-US Partnership,

It was only in 2009 when US State Secretary Hillary Clinton announced that the US would formally launch accession to Asean?s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. Nothing concrete has happened since then, making the US the only major pacific power that has not joined Asean?s TAC.

Earlier, Asean had signed TAC with 15 other countries, including China (2003), India (2003), Japan (2004), South Korea (2004), New Zealand (2005), and Australia (2005). They are major sources of trade, investment, and overseas development assistance (ODA) in the region.

Prior to the Philippine-China?s standoff [that began in early April], an editorial of China?s Global Times had accused the Philippines of being US?s ?vain partner,? following the announcement of the Philippine government to allow more US troops in the Philippines.

The Chinese paper threatened that China could punitively act by cutting off economic activities in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries.

It was a sign of the beginning of China?s response to the US?s plan to remain an Asia Pacific power.

US President Barack Obama announced in November the deployment of 2,500 US Marines to northern Australia; a US admiral also said last December 2011 that Singapore has allowed the stationing of US combat ships in the Lion City.

The US forces had used the Scarborough Shoal for war games when the Philippine government hosted (until 1991) the former US Naval Base in Olongapo, Zambales, and the defunct US Clark Air Base in Angeles, Pampanga.

In 1991, the Philippines Senate rejected a US-proposed extension of the now defunct Philippines-US Military Bases Agreement (MBA), the basis of the hosting of two largest US war facilities in central Luzon for almost a hundred years.

The war facilities of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) in Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam were turned over to Vietnam in early 2000, following USSR?s dismemberment in 1991. Prior to that, the balance of power in the region was between the US and the USSR.

Despite the ending of the Cold War at the time, the US has tried, since 1991, to have naval access in Asean countries, a move seen by observers as a deterrent against China.

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