CHAPTER 5

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Summary

The Philippines and the United States shared a long history of bilateral relations.

From fighting side-by-side with the Americans during the Spanish-American War,

against the Japanese during the Second World War, Korean and Vietnam Wars, and the

latest US led Global War on Terrorism, the Philippines remain a loyal treaty ally to the

United States. Since 1951 to the present, the United States and the Philippines maintain

an existing agreement between them which is the Mutual Defense Treaty. However, the

US-Philippine Military Bases Agreement of 1947 was terminated in 1991 and eventually

US forces were pulled out of the Philippines. Since then, both countries sustained a

discreet alliance. After the 9/11 bombings in the United States, the US-Philippine

security alliance was revived by the Global War on Terrorism. The Philippines was the

first ASEAN country to openly support the American led campaign against terrorism.

However, the withdrawal of Philippine humanitarian contingent in Iraq last July 2004,

caused tension in USPhilippine relations.

Though, after more than two decades since the Philippines rejected the renewal

of its military bases agreement with the US, with the rise of maritime security issues in

Southeast Asia and the territorial expansion of China, the Philippines has once again

entered into a strengthened military agreement with the US in the form of the Enhanced

Defense Cooperation Agreement.

 With the existing executive agreement between the United States and the

Philippines, we sought to answer: what role does the Philippines play in the US

rebalancing strategy and how does its alliance with the US affect its security relations?

Are the security implications of EDCA consistent to the national interest of the

Philippines?

The researchers discovered that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement

geostrategically fits to the US rebalance in the Asia Pacific. It serves as a launch pad to

the United States to easily access its other allies in the region. Moreover, the US troops

can also freely roam in the military bases of the Philippines without fees or rent. These

factors revealed that the agreement is problematic in the part of the Philippines.

The researchers also found out that the presence of the US military forces in the

Philippine territory poses a threat to its security. Neighboring states and enemies of its

ally, the US, may also constitute danger to the Philippines. Considering these factors, it

could be argued that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement facilitates the

interests of the US more than that of the Philippines.

Conclusions

The study aimed to theoretically analyze the nature of the US-Philippine alliance

through the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement at the present context how

EDCA fits to the United States interest to rebalance in the Asia Pacific, how EDCA
affects the security relations of the Philippines with other states, and the issue of

whether or not EDCA is in line with the national interest of the Philippines.

The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement strategically fits to the United

States rebalance in the Asia Pacific. The geographical location of the Philippines suits

the interest of the US. It serves as a springboard for the US to its other allies. The

EDCA also facilitates US efforts to contain the rise of China to ensure the maintenance

of its status as the sole regional hegemon in the present international system. The

Philippines plays a role in the existing balance of power by allying to the US. Moreover,

provisions in the agreement allowing the US to send military forces and have access

inside the AFP camps for free, also serve the interest of the United States. However, the

presence of US military troops in the Philippine territory has security implications to the

latter.

Applying the concept of Security Dilemma, it is only natural for a rising power like

China to feel insecure when its rival country, the US, sends troops in its neighbors

territory. Because China is uncertain of the real intention of the US in sending military

troops in the Philippines, it will only intensify its pursuance of power to defend itself

against the perceived aggression of the United States. Other rivals of the US can also

attack the Philippines to injure its military forces there. This could be detrimental to the

security of the Philippines.

However, some key informants believe that the presence of the US military

forces will supplement the weakness and deficiencies of the Armed Forces of the

Philippines. The formality of the executive agreement gives assurance that the US will
come to our aid when an attack comes- both from internal and external forces.

Considering these contrasting views, the researchers believe that the explanation

provided by the offensive realist point-of-view is more pragmatic in the present context.

From analyzing the security implications of the Philippines alliance to the US,

arises the question of whether or not the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement is

in line with the national interest of the Philippines. The researchers found out that

although the Philippine governments intention in entering the agreement is meant to

defend its territorial integrity and therefore, is consistent to the countrys national

interest, the EDCA appears to be more beneficial to the United States. The Philippines,

a small power relative to the US, which is currently the only regional hegemon in the

world, merely becomes an instrument of the latter in containing the rise of its potential

adversary which is China. Applying the realist perspective, a state always pursues

power until it achieves its goal of becoming a hegemon. The US, having achieved its

hegemonic status, will not allow any state to challenge its position of power and alter the

present international order. The Philippines, on the other hand, is threatened by Chinas

territorial expansion and great military capabilities thus its alliance with the US to help

balance against China. But history will tell us that the Philippines, as a treaty partner

and a military ally of the US for decades, never really achieved autonomous

development and modernization when it comes to its armed forces. The Philippines

remains to have the weakest military capabilities among the countries in the Southeast

Asia.

Considering all the factors, it could be argued that the Enhanced Defense

Cooperation Agreement is very important to the US rebalancing strategy. It plays a

critical role in facilitating the interests of the US in the region because of its geostrategic

location. Moreover, it is practical to the US for it provides a free military base to its

troops. However, this set-up has negative implications to the security relations of the

Philippines with other states, especially its neighbors who are currently in conflict with

its ally, the US. Finally, given all these arguments, the researchers conclude that the

Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement serves the interest of the United States and

not of the Philippines.

Recommendations

I. The following recommendations were made to assist foreign policy makers to

formulate a more effective strategy in dealing with the United States and

China:

1. To avoid a situation where we have to choose between straightforward

alternatives such as balancing or bandwagoning, the researchers suggest

that the Philippines should hedge between the US and China. The

Philippine government should maintain a middle position that preempts or

avoids having to choose one side at the obvious expense of another, to

exert leverage over both great powers, or be able to rely on other major

powers for security guarantees.

II. The following recommendations were made to assist future researchers who

would wish to explore the same topic:

1. Executive agreements are subject to changes of regime. This study

focused on the US-Philippine alliance under the Aquino administration in

which the countrys foreign policy basically focuses on balancing with the
United States. Also with the transition of the US government from Obama

to Trump regime, it is important to consider the change of path their

foreign policy will undertake.