US to retain military assets in Philippines after joint ops is complete. Kind of funny because the Chinese keep saying the islands are not for military purposes, and the increased joint movements with the Philippines is not to antagonize the Chinese. But yet each do exactly that. A kind of diplomatic "say what we want, not what we do" approach.
Per
NBCNews:
U.S. Sending Commandos, Combat Aircraft to Philippineshttp://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/u-s-sending-commandos-combat-aircraft-philippines-n556091The United States on Thursday revealed for the first time that American ships have started conducting joint patrols with the Philippines in the South China Sea, a somewhat rare move not done with many other partners in the region.
At the same time, Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced at a joint news conference with Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmi that the United States will be keeping nearly 300 troops, including Air Force commandos armed with combat aircraft and helicopters, in the Philippines through the end of the month.
It's part of a military build-up sure to inflame tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea.
The U.S. will also begin sending forces on increased rotations into the Philippines, it was disclosed, to beef up training and to support increased military operations in the region.
Speaking in the guest house of the presidential complex, Carter said the U.S. military moves are not meant to provoke anyone, but instead said "we're trying to tamp down tensions here.."
According to the Pentagon, the U.S. forces that will remain here are already in the Philippines participating in the Balikatan or shoulder-to-shoulder combat exercises which will end Friday. About 200 airmen, including special operations forces will remain at Clark Air Base, along with three of their Pave Hawk attack helicopters, an MC-130H Combat Talon II special mission aircraft and five A-10 combat aircraft.
This initial contingent will provide training to increase the two militaries' ability to work together, laying the groundwork for forces to do joint air patrols as well as the ship movements.
Also, up to 75 Marines will stay at Camp Aguinaldo to support increased U.S. and Philippine combined military operations in the region.
The troops and aircraft are expected to leave at the end of the month, but other U.S. forces and aircraft would do similar rotations into the Philippines in the future. A defense official would not say how frequently those rotations would happen, but said the size schedule and makeup would fluctuate. The official was not authorized to discuss the issue publicly so spoke on condition of anonymity.
The increased troop presence is part of a broader U.S. campaign to expand its assistance to the Philippines, as America shores up its allies in the Asia Pacific. And it comes as territorial disputes with China, including Beijing's increasing effort to build manmade islands in the South China Sea, roils nations across the region.
The U.S. and others have consistently said the military exercises and assistance packages are not aimed at China but represent America's continued support for its allies in the region. But China views any increased U.S. military presence and activities in the region as a threat.
