Philippines Denies US Pushing for Revival of Military Bases

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, August 29, 2003

Philippines Denies US Pushing for Revival of Military Bases

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople has made it clear the United States has no plans of reviving their military bases in the Philippines.

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Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople has made it clear the United States has no plans of reviving their military bases in the Philippines.

Ople was reacting to comments by Undersecretary Amado Valdez ofthe Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement that visiting American officials had asked about the possibility of setting up their military facilities here again, the Philippine Daily Inquirer on-line news reported Friday.

Earlier, Valdez reportedly told Pentagon officials that the possibility was remote and proposed instead the setting up of an international facility for various countries, possibly in the former US bases in Clark Field and Subic in the northern Philippines.

"No such requests have been made," Ople said. But he added thatthe alternative option to set up an international facility would have to be viewed by the government "from the standpoint of commercial benefits if it involves no basing rights."

Ople said the relationship between the Philippines and the United States has "matured way past any notion of having US bases in the Philippines. US military bases are no longer in any equation when it comes to our relations."

"Contrary to some rumors that have appeared in media, there areno plans whatsoever. The United States has not asked for a return of the US military bases," Ople said.

Ople said any presence of US military forces would be "temporary and based on the Visiting Forces Agreement and not in any military bases agreement."

He said, "Permanent basing for any foreign military is entirelyout of the question."

Several weeks ago, a group of Pentagon officials visited the Philippines and met with officials of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement, reportedly having inquired aboutthe possibility of setting up bases here again 12 years after the treaty to renew basing rights was rejected by the Philippine Senate.

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