Termination of VFA ‘a move in the wrong direction,’ says Pentagon Chief

President Duterte’s decision to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement is seen as a “move in the wrong direction” by United States Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.Esper issued the statement as he confirmed on Tuesday that Washington has already received the notification of the termination of the military pact from the Philippine government.

“[A]s we try and, you know, bolster our presence and compete with them in this era of great power competition, I think it’s a move in the wrong direction — for again, for the longstanding relationship we’ve had with the Philippines for their strategic location, the ties between our peoples, our countries,” he added.

As stated in the VFA, the termination of the accord will take effect in 180 days unless there is a “compromise” during the time. The said exercises and engagements are being held annually to boost the capability, readiness, and interoperability of the two countries’ militaries which is deemed crucial especially with the volatile situation in the South China Sea, where the Philippines has an overlapping claim in some areas with China.

The military source added that even the US troops providing intelligence support to the Mindanao-based troops in its fight against Abu Sayyaf Group, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters , Maute Group, and other ISIS-inspired terrorist groups may be pulled out. Lorenzana, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., and some lawmakers said earlier that the termination of the VFA will have a negative impact on the national security and defense posture of the Philippines.

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