EDCA: Another Manifestation of Continued Dependence to the United States

American Military presence in the Philippines had long been a heated issue through the years. Our military cooperation with the United States has taken different forms namely the Mutual Defense Treaty during the 1950's and the Visiting Forces Agreement during the late 1990's. But what exactly is the point of contention for the anti-US protestors? That American military presence in our country increases our reliance to the United States when it comes to the protection of our own country. 

The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) is the recent version entered into by our government with the United States last 2014. It is envisioned to supplement the previous military agreements entered into by the two countries. But do the Philippines actually need to reinforce these agreements? Considering that the Philippines ordered the removal of the US military bases in Subic and Clark in 1991, the government should have in the course of 25 years slowly eased out our military dependence from the Americans.

The government insists that the EDCA will only give the United States access to the agreed locations in local military bases and that the Philippines will benefit in the long run since the US as an ally will strengthen the capabilities for external and territorial defense. In my opinion, our continued need to join forces with the US Military will hurt the Philippines in the long run because such alliance will be taken against us by other countries specifically China. With our on-going maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea, the military presence of the US in the contested territory may aggravate the Chinese military to be more aggressive and relentless in bullying our military forces in the area once the implementation of the EDCA is on full force. 

Another argument is the constitutionality of the EDCA which the protestors insist that EDCA is not constitutional as it was signed without prior Senate approval. However, in the recent decision of the Supreme Court which ruled that the EDCA is in fact an executive agreement between the two states and does not need a Senate approval to implement. Bearing in mind that an executive agreement does not need the consent of the Senate, the Philippines government especially the President should not easily agree to let another country use our military facilities for the reason of strengthening our mutual alliance. Military assistance should be given freely and voluntary by another country and not under the premise of an executive agreement between two states.  

With all things considered, whether the EDCA is constitutional and ready for implementation, the Philippines should have not entered into a renewed agreement with the United States in terms of increasing US military presence in our country. Our priority should be to strengthen our troops and modernize their equipment without the external assistance from our allies. While it is true, that in times of need our country would need our friends but the Philippines should be a strong and independent archipelagic state who is able to defend our country at all times.