MDT should’ve been reviewed BEFORE the termination of the VFA was stopped

A Screenshot of Sun Star Manila's Article on Lorenzana, the MDT and the Chinese Envoy

I wonder why Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana would say something like this now, what is his objective in revealing this? Is it to say that he listens to China’s advice? I don’t think so, because everybody knows he is an “American Boy” or “Amboy”. 

So I think he is trying to put the blame on China why the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) was not renewed, which is absolutely funny, because it is obvious that the MDT should’ve been reviewed BEFORE the terminiation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) was stopped. 

Pakistan gets more Aid from the U.S. than the Philippines – Malacanang

Counterterrorism (CT) Aid per Country by the US from 2001 to 2017. The label of the last Column is wrong, it should've read "Total FY 2001 -FY 2017", you can verify this by adding the amounts from 2001 to 2017

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque gave a very good argument as to why the Philippine should ask the United States (US) for payment for the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) as President Rodrigo Duterte said recently. 

Roque pointed out a Study made by the American Research Organization The Stimson Center in 2018 called “Counterterrorism Spending: Protecting America While Promoting Efficiencies and Accountability”. 

Duterte is correct in asking for Payment from the US for the VFA

President Rodrigo Duterte, Photo from Wikimedia Commons

In a Speech before the Philippine Air Force (PAF) recently, President Rodrigo Duterte said that the United States (US) will have to pay the Philippines if it wants to keep the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with us. 

I agree with him for a number of reasons. First is that the US has proven to be an unreliable ally, their abandonment of us in a showdown against China in Panatag Shoal in 2012 is proof of that and is almost unforgiveable, at least for me. 

Anonymous claims on why the termination of the VFA was suspended

Some details were reported by anonymous sources to the legit news organization One News recently as to why the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) was suspended by President Rodrigo Duterte:

* An anonymous Western Intelligence Official said that a lot of backdoor Talks and Lobbying were involved on both sides which led to the suspension of the termination of the VFA.

* The Western Official said that a lobby group in the United States (US) convinced the Pentagon and the US State Department to agree to renegotiate the terms of the VFA.

* An anonymous Military Officer assigned to one of the South East Asian Embassies in Metro Manila said that a group of retired Pro-Duterte Generals was able to convince the President to delay the termination of the VFA due to developments in the region.

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We will know if the claims of these anonymous sources are indeed true or not if they are confirmed later, or if some results come out of it, like the claim that the terms of the VFA could be renegotiated. If so, I hope that the new negotiated terms will be a lot more favorable to the Philippines than it is now. 

SOURCE: Phl, US moving towards renegotiating VFA

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Duterte suspends the termination of the VFA with the US - June 2020

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. just announced on Twitter that President Rodrigo Duterte has SUSPENDED the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States (US) which was supposed to take effect in August 2020.

Link to the Tweet: Official Teddy Locsin Jr. Twitter Post on 06/02/2020 - 1955H

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US Foreign Military Financing Program for 2018

Just showing the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) Program of the United States (US) for the year 2018. The source of this information is from the Congressional Budget Justification of the Department of State for the Fiscal Year 2020.

So for the year 2018, the US provided the Philippines Usd 40 million in FMF which is, to be fair, is the highest in South East Asia (SEA). However, there are several other countries which are got more than the Philippines for that year, and these are:
* Tunisia = Usd 65 million
* Lebanon = Usd 92 million
* Ukraine = Usd 95 million
* Iraq = Usd 250 million
* Jordan = Usd 425 million
* Egypt = Usd 1.3 billion
* Israel = Usd 3.1 billion

VFA with the Philippines important to US interests in the SCS and Taiwan – Rand Corp.

A Screenshot of the Rand Corp.'s Article titled, "If U.S. Forces have to leave the Philippines, then what?"

This article by the Rand Corp. is very, very revealing, everybody should read it. This is a MUST READ article about the importance of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) to the interests of the United States (US) in the region.

It’s funny that while US President Donald Trump shrugged off President Rodrigo Duterte’s termination of the VFA between the Philippines and US, the American Think Tank Rand Corp. goes out and enumerates how important the VFA is to protect certain US interests in the region.

The Philippines wants U.S. Military Forces gone? Donald Trump should do it – The National Interest Article

And another American writes about not wanting to fight a war alongside the Philippines against China just for the sake of the South China Sea (SCS).

It seems this is what Americans generally feel about the SCS issue, as illustrated when the United States (US) Government refused PNoy' plea for help to confront China in the SCS back in 2012.

Good, then, I think the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) should be terminated at the soonest possible time.

SOURCE: The Philippines wants U.S. Military Forces gone? Donald Trump should do it

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Interesting Points about VFAs – February 18, 2020

Just some interesting points on this article by One News:

* Japan is reportedly eager to sign a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the Philippines, but that the agreement will be modeled after the one signed by the Philippines and Australia. The process for the signing of the VFA with Japan is expected to be accelerated now that the Philippines’ VFA with the US will be terminated by August 2020.

* Singapore is another country which the Philippines could revive a VFA with.

* The United States (US) reportedly refused to help the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) when it ran out of Ammunition fighting the Muslim Rebellion in the South during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

SOURCE: More Defense Cooperation and Increased Defense Spending for Phl as US fades away

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VFA with Japan, South Korea, China and Indonesia?

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has expressed its intention to have Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with Japan, South Korea, China and Indonesia, but I saw another news report which said that President Rodrigo Duterte is not interested in having a VFA with other countries for now, hence these may come later

Russia is not included in the above list, but the AFP is reportedly also interested in having a VFA with other countries, hence they may be included there also.

SOURCES:
* PH in talks with 4 Countries for VFA deal
* PH won't seek Military Pacts with other Nations: Palace

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Trump trying to save VFA, but Duterte intent on terminating the VFA

President Rodrigo Duterte revealed that United States (US) President Donald Trump is trying to save the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the US, but it seems he is intent on ending it.

Quoting from President Duterte, “Alam mo, we’ve been fighting the communists for 53 years. Kung nakatulong talaga ang Amerika, p…i…naman, hanggang ngayon? (You know we’ve been fighting the Communists for 53 years. If America really helped, son of a bit#% why is it still going up to now?)”

The Philippines one of the longest running insurgencies in the world right now, so it really needs to be resolved as soon as possible.

SOURCE: Trump trying to save VFA, says Duterte

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POLL RESULT: On the Termination of the VFA with the US

January to February 2020 Poll Result on the VFA

After a week of polling the final result is in, and the “Yes” vote wins which agrees with President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States (US). It got 60% of the votes while the “No” vote only got 40%

SOURCE: The rhk111 Philippine Defense Page Post, 01/24/20 - 1956H {Archived Link}

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