Last three of five patrol aircraft donated to the Philippines from Japan.
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CAVITE, Philippines – The Philippine government got 3 more hand-me-down Beechcraft King Air TC-90 planes from Japan on Monday, March 26, completing the expected 5-plane squadron promised by Tokyo.
The transfer was formalized through an elaborate arrival and transfer ceremony at Sangley Point, Cavite City, complete with a water cannon salute when the planes landed.
Present at the event were Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Armed Forces chief General Rey Leonardo Guerrero, and Navy chief Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad.
"The activation of the 5 TC-90 aircraft into the service of the Philippine Navy is truly a huge leap in the PN's air capability. The TC-90 is far more superior than our current inventories," Empedrad said in his speech.
How are they superior? The planes are not much for the Japanese as they only used the aircraft to train their pilots before they board bigger, more state-of-the-art patrol planes.
For the ill-equipped Philippine Navy, however, they matter a lot. (READ: Small planes for PH Navy signal Japan's growing security role)
Compared to the Navy's old Islanders, Empedrad said, the TC-90s are "far more superior...in terms of speed, range, longer loiter time capability, superior search, tracking, imaging, and identification."
Planes for free? The planes weren't supposed to be given for free, but the Japanese government decided to give them away after their law had allowed for turning over defense equipment to other nations.
The change in legislation has saved the Philippine government much, as the initial agreement between Manila and Tokyo required the Philippines to pay $28,000 for a 5-year lease.
While few and small, the planes are remarkable for being among the first equipment given away by Japan in the wake of its lifted weapons export ban put in place since World War II.
How will the planes be used? The planes will fly on patrol over the West Philippine Sea, but Defense Secretary Lorenzana noted that the aircraft will take on more missions inside the Philippines for disaster response operations.
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https://www.rappler.com/nation/199002-philippines-navy-patrol-planes-japan-maritime-patrol
China's investments into the Philippines is very little. Chinese media like to post flashy headlines about big projects getting agreement or signed, but in the months following such agreements and signings, often the project bogs down and stalls. The Indonesia high speed rail project with China is an example.
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As far as the economy is concerned, it’s business as usual in the Philippines. This is a significant factor, precisely because since President Rodrigo Duterte’s ascent to power in mid-2016, there have been growing worries about the country’s international isolation and, by extension, economic outlook.
Thanks to the president’s incendiary rhetoric against traditional allies as well as deepening concerns over widespread extrajudicial killings under Duterte’s war on drugs campaign, many observers feared that intemperate leadership and shaky politics would (once again) undermine the country’s newfound economic momentum.
Yet, facts on the ground suggest a more sanguine outlook for the Philippine economy. More interestingly, however, the bulk of investments under Duterte have come from traditional allies, namely the United States, Japan and Europe. Mainland China is yet to make a major dent on the country’s overall investment landscape.
At odds
To be fair, there have been signs of economic tremor. The Philippines’ currency has been in tailspin, reaching its lowest level in more than a decade. It has the dubious distinction of standing as the worst performing currency in all of Asia. The country also posted its highest trade deficit on record, expanding to $3.78 billion in November last year.
It’s an unusual situation for a booming Asian economy in an export-oriented region, where most countries enjoy large trade surpluses as well as significant reservoir of sovereign wealth funds. Credit rating agencies have also been perturbed by the state of rule of law (or its absence) and policy predictability under the Duterte administration. So initial worries weren’t entirely baseless.
Yet, latest data shows that the Southeast Asian country continues to be a favored destination for investors. And the reason is largely structural. Investors are interested in tapping into the vast potentials of a young, vibrant and highly promising labor force.
After more than a decade of sustained macroeconomic reform, beginning in the mid-2000s and reaching its apogee in recent years, the Philippines seems to be on its way to establishing itself as the new darling of international investors.
Last year, Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in the Philippines reached a record-high of $10 billion. This perfectly tracked with the prescient prognostications of the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) of the Philippines.
Never in its recent history has the Southeast Asian country, formerly known as the “sick man of Asia” attracted as much greenfield investments.
In its latest report, The US News & World Report, in partnership with the Y&R’s BAV Group and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, identified the Philippines as “Best Country to Invest In” in 2018. Much of the optimism of the report was based on the assumption that, “country is expected to receive more FDI from within the region from powerhouses like China,” which are intent on optimizing cheaper labor in neighboring Southeast Asian countries.
The money flow
Yet, actual figures show that China is yet to make any major investments in the Philippines, despite repeated announcements about a new “golden age” in bilateral relations. In fact, Chinese investment pledges have been at the heart of Duterte’s pivot away from its traditional allies and increasingly warm relations with Beijing, despite yearlong maritime disputes in the South China Sea.
The bulk of investments last year came from traditional trading partners such as the U.S., Japan, and the Netherlands, as well as city-states of Singapore and Hong Kong. No trace of Mainland Chinese investments in key sectors of Philippine economy.
In the first year of Duterte’s administration, Japan and the United States led the way in investments. Japanese investment increased by 23.79%, from an already large base of $490 million (PHP 25.43 billion) in 2016 to $600 million (PHP 31.48 billion) in 2017. American investment was down by 69.62% (a 13-year low), from $530 million (PHP 27.51 billion) in 2016, but still stood at a high $160 million (PHP 8.357 billion).
South Korean investment, however, virtually collapsed, down by 92.61% from a high of $230 million (PHP 11.82 billion) in 2016 to only $16.6 million (PHP 873.15 million) in 2017. In contrast, China investment expanded by 15%, but from a very low base of only $27 million (PHP 1.40 billion) in 2016 to $31 million (PHP 1.61 billion) in 2017. That means countries like Japan out-invested China by a whopping 23:1 ratio.
More on Forbes: Duterte's Ambitious 'Build, Build, Build' Project To Transform The Philippines Could Become His Legacy
In short, the Philippine economy under Duterte, so far, continues to rely on investment from traditional partners, despite all the commotion about the supposed deluge of Chinese investments. In fact, it’s Japanese investors, which are also at the forefront of infrastructure build up in the country, including the Mega-Manila underground metro system project, the country’s first.
It remains to be seen whether coming years will see Mainland China making large-scale investment commensurate to its rhetoric, and expand beyond traditional area of investments such as casinos and extractive industries. One thing is clear, however: The Philippine economy keeps on roaring in spite of its political leadership.
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/richar...tment-boom-but-dont-thank-china/#56a200e9393e
USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Bunker HIll, HMAS Anzac and HMAS Success, and JS Akizuki visit the Philippines at the same time. Balikatan exercise next month.
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MANILA, Philippines – About 300 Filipino government officials, military officers, businessmen, diplomats, and journalists boarded a massive US aircraft carrier in Manila Bay Friday night, April 13, for a reception hosted by US ambassador Sung Kim.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt, the flagship of US Navy Carrier Strike Group 9, arrived in Manila on April 11, the same day China began drills in the South China Sea. The reception aboard the carrier was held only hours after China ended the drills with a large naval parade that Chinese President Xi Jinping himself witnessed.
Two Australian warships and a Japanese destroyer also arrived in nearby Subic Bay for innocent but curiously timed port visits.
US Navy Rear Admiral Stephen Koehler, commander of the Strike Group 9, said it is important to make sure that the "sea is a rightful place for everybody."
"Sailing in the South China Sea continues to be a great opportunity to ensure freedom of commerce and ensure that the sea is a rightful place for everybody. All the navies that we’ve sailed with here, and it’s been plenty, continue to do that," Koehler told Rappler.
Alliance: US, Australia, Japan
The US, Australia, and Japan are allies in fighting for freedom of navigation in the South China Sea – an important trade route – where China insists sovereignty.
The Royal Australian Navy's long range guided missile frigate HMAS Anzac and auxillary oiler replenishment HMAS Success arrived on April 11 for a 5-day goodwill visit.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Akizuki-class destroyer JS AKIZUKI arrived in Subic Bay on April 13 for a 3-day goodwill visit.
The USS Roosevelt is the second US aircraft carrier to visit Manila this year, following USS Carl Vinson last month. It's a testament to the importance of the Philippines to the US, said Kim.
"We are thrilled that USS Roosevelt is visiting the Philippines. I think it's a very clear reflection of our commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, commitment to the US-Philippine alliance, partnership, friendship and also our commitment to promoting and protecting very important rights, principles and values like freedom of navigation and freedom of commerce, and freedom of flight," Kim told Rappler during the reception.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano, and business tycoon Jaime Zobel de Ayala were among the guests. Representatives of other embassies and foreign military attaches were also present.
Koehler also hosted a small group of Philippine generals aboard the carrier in the South China Sea before arriving in Manila Bay on April 11.
US envoy: I'm pleased with the alliance
The Philippines, located strategically between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, is a longtime ally of the US. But geopolitics in the region changed when President Rodrigo Duterte sought warmer ties with China, and for a time threatened to scrap treaties with the US in the wake of criticisms over his brutal campaign against drug use.
The US-Philippines alliance survived and Duterte expressed a liking for US President Donald Trump, a positive development if only for the survival of the ties.
The annual US-Philippines Balikatan war games will be held next month. Australia and Japan will also participate.
The US and Australia have visiting forces agreements with the Philippines, a treaty also previously contemplated with Japan.
"I’m very pleased with the state of our alliance in general," said Kim. Our exercises are continuing. Planning for Balikatan this year has been well underway for many months now. I expect that it will be a very productive exercise this year as it was last year," said Kim. (READ: How are US-PH ties under the Duterte? 'Terrific,' says envoy)
Personnel of the USS Theodore Roosevelt will participate in cultural exchanges and community relations. The US embassy said the carrier, after departing Manila, will continue on its deployment to the Western Pacific.
The Australian and Japan navies will hold various engagements with the Philippine Navy.
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https://www.rappler.com/nation/200212-united-states-allies-show-force-south-china-sea