Maoist CPP NPA Oppose US Pivot to Asia over Spratly’ Philippines – China conflict

Maoist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) NPA in the Philippines accused US of using the Philippine Navy as its "frontline force" against China in connection with the brewing conflict over the Spratly Islands.

The China's funded Maoist CPP communist NPA in the Philippines even rejected by China recently show a gestures of supporting back China over Philippines Spratly territorial disputes to gain back the support of the Asian Communist Giant.

NPA irk the armament upgrade of the Philippines as Washington will turnover another Hamilton Class Cutter warship to the Philippines' government this year (2012). "The transfer of another naval cutter from the US government serves the purpose of US military buildup on the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea). Through such, the US is able to employ the Philippine Navy as an augmentation force in the course of its operations to permanently project its military presence and power in the area and secure the trade routes and Asian markets in the interest of US monopoly capitalist companies," the communist CPP NPA said in a statement.

Recently, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin confirmed talks about the acquisition of another Hamilton-class cutter.

However, Vice Admiral Alexander Pama, Navy flag officer in command, said there is no formal offer yet from the US government on the acquisition of another 40-year-old cutter.

Last year the Navy acquired its first cutter from the US Coast Guard under the Excess Defense Articles Program of the US.

Renamed to BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF15), the US ship that was refurbished and put into operational mission by the Navy last December 2011 was deployed for maritime security patrol on the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) right after the another intrusion of China on December 11 & 12, 2011 in the Sabina Shoal of Palawan Province with less than a hundred mile distance from the mainland Palawan island.

Also, the CPP NPA accused that transfer of the second Hamilton Class cutter to the Navy "further heightens" tension and is "provoking" China.

"Officials of the US Congress announced that its Foreign Relations Committee is about to wrap up the decision to transfer the US naval cutter Dallas by the end of the week or the 3^rd week of February 2012 and plans to sail it to the Philippines soon thereafter. The naval cutter Dallas was commissioned by the US Coast Guard in 1967," it said.

But defense and military officials averred that the acquisition of new war materiél is part of the long-stalled modernization program of the Armed Forces and has nothing to do with the dispute over the Spratly Islands.

The government earlier announced that it was also negotiating with the US government for the acquisition of several F-16 "Fighting Falcon" jet fighters.

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USA to build new Military base in Spratly Islands -Negotiation with Philippines Government

Zachary S. Welch/AP - Two decades after evicting U.S. forces from their biggest base in the Pacific, the Philippines is in talks with the Obama administration about expanding the American military presence in the island nation, the latest in a series of strategic moves aimed at China.

Two decades after evicting U.S. forces from their biggest base in the Pacific, the Philippines is in talks with the Obama administration about expanding the American military presence in the island nation, the latest in a series of strategic moves aimed at China.

Although negotiations are in the early stages, officials from both governments said they are favorably inclined toward a deal. They are scheduled to intensify the discussions Thursday and Friday in Washington before higher-level meetings in March. If an arrangement is reached, it would follow other recent agreements to base thousands of U.S. Marines in northern Australia and to station Navy warships in Singapore.

Among the options under consideration are operating Navy ships from the Philippines, deploying troops on a rotational basis and staging more frequent joint exercises. Under each scenario, U.S. forces would effectively be guests at existing foreign bases.

The sudden rush by many in the Asia-Pacific region to embrace Washington is a direct reaction to China's rise as a military power and its assertiveness in staking claims to disputed territories, such as the energy-rich West Philippines Sea (South China Sea).

"We can point to other countries: Australia, Japan, Singapore," said a senior Philippine official involved in the talks, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the confidentiality of the deliberations. "We're not the only one doing this, and for good reason. We all want to see a peaceful and stable region. Nobody wants to have to face China or confront China."

The strategic talks with the Philippines are in addition to feelers that the Obama administration has put out to other Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam and Thailand, about possibly bolstering military partnerships.

The United States already has about 600 Special Operations troops in the Philippines, where they advise local forces in their fight with rebels sympathetic to al-Qaeda. But the talks underway between the Philippines and Washington potentially involve a much more extensive partnership.

Officials in the Philippines — which has 7,107 islands — said their priority is to strengthen maritime defenses, especially near the South China Sea. They indicated a willingness to host American ships and surveillance aircraft.

Although the U.S. military has tens of thousands of troops stationed at long-standing bases in Japan, South Korea and Guam, as well as the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, it is seeking to solidify its presence in Southeast Asia. Some of the world's busiest trade routes pass through the South China Sea and the nearby Strait of Malacca.

Instead of trying to establish giant bases reminiscent of the Cold War, however, Pentagon officials said they want to maintain a light footprint.

"We have neither desire nor any interest in creating a U.S.-only base in Southeast Asia," said Robert Scher, a deputy assistant secretary of defense who oversees security policy in the region. "In each one of these cases, the core decision and discussion is about how we work better with our friends and allies. And the key piece of that is working from their locations."

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