OLONGAPO, Philippines: Alma Bulawan lives in what was once the Philippines’ “sin city”, a place shaped by decades of the United States’ military presence. She opposes a larger US military footprint in her country but knows she belongs to the minority.
Beijing’s claims to much of the South China Sea, a major trade route, are also a source of conflict with some Southeast Asian nations whose fishermen have been outmuscled and intimidated by larger Chinese vessels.examines whether the US and Philippines’ new deal will even out the power imbalance in the South China Sea or drag Filipinos into a superpower rivalry.Olongapo residents, more than most, have seen both the shiny and dark sides of American military presence.
When it leased and controlled the Subic naval base — the last of six bases to be returned to the Philippine government — the US provided economic, military and housing assistance to the Philippines.In the financial year that ended in September 1991, the Philippines received US$408 million in connection with the bases, and the Subic base had pumped more than US$344 million a year into the Philippine economy, the New York Times reported.
Although the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has rejected most of Beijing’s claims to the South China Sea in a case brought by the Philippines, small-scale Southeast Asian fishermen still find their right to fish under threat. “Because of that, we have no choice but to strengthen our security alliance with the US so we can protect our own interests.”In northern Luzon’s Cagayan province, however, Governor Manuel Mamba begs to differ. China, he said, is “not an enemy”.
The rehabilitation of Aparri port would require dredging the sea floor to allow bigger ships to dock. Part of the Cagayan River Restoration Project, this also aims to mitigate flooding. “They sell the arms, they sell all these fighter jets and everything, including what the soldiers will wear.” In the final months of his presidency, however, the Philippines and the US held their largest joint military exercise in seven years.Under the current president, Ferdinand Marcos Junior, ties have grown warmer, and he was welcomed to the White House this month by US President Joe Biden.
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