Geoff: The U.S. And the
Philippines reached an agreement
today allowing American military
forces to operate in four yet to
be confirmed new locations
across the nation.
Today's move is aimed at
confronting China and its focus
on Taiwan, which is only a few
hundred miles from one of the
new locations where U.S. Forces
will likely operate.
Another new location faces the
south China sea.
Last month, the U.S. And Japan
announced an agreement allowing
American forces to operate on a
Japanese island that is even
closer to Taiwan.
For analysis, Zack cooper joins
us.
He is a senior fellow at the
American enterprise institute, a
Washington think tank.
He also served in various
national security posts during
the George W. Bush
administration.
It is great to have you here.
And how will they U.S. Use these
military bases with the goal of
confronting China's influence in
the region?
Zack: I think the objective here
is to provide new assets where
the United States can place its
forces so they are not so
focused on a few bases in east
Asia.
Right now, the U.S. Uses okinawa
and Guam as its main operating
locations, and being able to
diversify away from a couple
locations makes the targeting
challenge much more difficult
for China.
Geoff: What does the Philippines
get out of allowing the U.S. To
expand its military footprint
there?
That is a politically sensitive
issue as you know because many
filipinos see the American
influence as being a vestige of
colonialism.
Zack: Absolutely.
This is really about places, not
bases.
We are not talking about going
back to big U.S. Facilities in
the Philippines.
These are Philippine bases where
U.S. Forces will be operating
sometimes, probably on an
operational basis.
With the filipinos get, and why
they are asking the U.S. To come
back in, is a presence in the
south China sea where the
Chinese are pushing the
filipinos quite hard.
Some other assistance with
disaster relief, which is a huge
issue in the pacific rim.
Geoff: What is the nature of the
relationship right now between
China and the Philippines.
?
This agreement was initially
signed in 2014, but progress
stalled because the former
president decided to pivot
toward beijing and away from the
U.S..
Zack: This is in part a win for
the United States but also in
part a mess for China.
This was a chance for the
Chinese government to drive a
wedge between the U.S. And
Philippines over the last X
years.
What we have seen is that
Rodrigo duterte is gone and his
successor has welcomed the U.S.
Back in, which has been a
surprise for some of us.
I think the reason is China has
pushed too hard.
It pushed the Philippines and
the south China sea and others
economically.
These countries are saying, we
have told rely on the united
States, there is no other
option.
Geoff: There is a debate on the
merits of having Marines, army
forces, American troops on these
islands where they are
effectively isolated.
It could be hard to supply them
or medically evacuate them if
that is what is necessary.
Explain that debate for us right
now.
Zack: The debate is between
stand in forces and outside
forces.
Outside forces say aircraft
carriers from operating far away
might be able to strike targets
in the theater, maybe in the
Taiwan street.
I think the argument the Marines
are making as it is important to
still be there.
How can you reassure
your friends if you're not there
with them in the fight?
To have a layer of forces that
are stand in forces is
important.
They can sense the region around
them and we can put new
capabilities, things like
anti-ship cruise missiles, on
those facilities if the
Philippines and others let us
that can hold Chinese targets at
risk.
Geoff: What are the steps?
Zack: This is a big question.
The agreement in 2014, the next
step was to execute and build
out some of those facilities and
have U.S. Forces use them, and
that never happened.
The thing many of us will be
looking for is whether U.S.
Forces are deployed on
rotational deployments.
There is a commitment of
something like $82 million that
is supposed to go in these
facilities soon.
We will be looking for those
signs they are executing.
But as Lloyd Austin said just
yesterday,, this is a very big
deal.
And I think he is right.
Geoff: That cooper, it is good
to see you.
Zack: Thank you.