MANILA, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo
Duterte said on Friday the United States must pay if it wants to
keep a two-decade-old troop deployment agreement with his
country that is central to U.S. strategy in Asia.
Duterte, a firebrand nationalist who openly disapproves of
the long-standing U.S. military alliance, unilaterally cancelled
the Visiting Force Agreement last year in an angry response to
an ally being denied a U.S. visa.
The withdrawal period has been twice extended, however, to
create what Philippine officials say is a window for better
terms to be agreed.
Speaking to Philippine troops on Friday after inspecting
newly acquired air assets, Duterte said: "I'd like to put on
notice if there is an American agent here, from now on, you want
the Visiting Forces Agreement done? You have to pay.
"It is a shared a responsibility, but your share of
responsibility does not come free, after all, when the war
breaks out we all pay," Duterte said, alluding to Washington and
Beijing stepping up military activities in the South China Sea.
Duterte did not elaborate, or say how much U.S. should pay.
The U.S. embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a
request for comment on his remarks.
The Philippines defence apparatus want to keep the VFA as it
has been vital in boosting the capabilities of under-resourced
Philippine forces through dozens of annual joint training
exercises, Duterte's defence minister has said.
U.S. and Philippine officials met on Thursday to settle
differences over the VFA, the first under U.S. President Joe
Biden's administration, which has reaffirmed the alliance in the
face of China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea.
"(The United States) is free to advance their troops in our
land...We do not like it because we want to remain neutral,"
Duterte said. "But the exigency of the moment requires their
presence here, I am okay with that."
Relations between the United States and its former east
Asian colony have been complicated by Duterte's rise to power in
2016 and his frequent statements condemning U.S. foreign policy,
and his open embrace of China.
Duterte reiterated that he wanted to avoid confrontation
with China over maritime claims that "would lead to something we
can hardly afford".