Straits of Melaka, Philippines important matter for the US

NEW YORK: At the New York Foreign Press Center recently, US Airforce Deputy Under Secretary, Heidi Grant, stressed the importance of the Straits of Melaka, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes for the East-West trade.

Grant also noted, that she has not seen, yet, any paradigm shift in defense relations between the US and the Philippines, following the past anti- US outbursts by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

Grant, who advises Airforce Secretary Deborah James and also the chief of the US Airforce, a four- star general, deals with air- force chiefs of over 100 countries around the world, and her organization manages over US$160 billion of partner nations’ funds.

Asked by this correspondent to comment on future US-Philippine airforce-to- airforce cooperation under Duterte who does not seem to be on the same page with its longtime ally - the USA; Grant recalled that she was in the Philippines about a month ago and she met that country’s defense minister and their airforce chief.

“We have a strong relationship with their ministry of defense and their airforce and we’re still doing rotational exercises, airforce-toairforce, with the Philippines. So as far as our policies (are concerned), we’re still moving forward ( sic) engaging with them,” Grant told Bernama.

Meanwhile, many Asian leaders are unsure of President- elect Donald Trump’s ideas, fearing this could herald a paradigm shift in the US approach to Asia.

But Grant reminded that until Jan 20 — President Barack Obama relinquishes office and Presidentelect Trump will take over on that day -- she would be working for the current administration.

“I’m following current policies. I can tell you that I’ve been working 27 years for our Department of Defense, for all the different presidents in that 27 years, and I’ll continue to follow the policy guidance given by the administration,” Grant noted.

Many American analysts fear that the Philippines is losing its momentum in asserting its claims against China to the South China Sea islands, especially after the recent Hague Tribunal’s ruling favouring the Philippines.

With the recent bonhomie between the Philippines and Malaysia on the one side, and China on the other, many feel that the claims of these countries to islands in the South China Sea would be weakened, and this development could rock the security boat under the US leadership.

However, Grant said that she would not get in the details of the policy piece.

“I’m the one that follows the policy to make the policy. But I can tell you – so where my role is on that is I want to make sure that if it does rock the boat, that those countries of – that have concerns, have the capability to protect their borders or to deter any further security concern,” she explained.

Grant also commented on the Straits of Melaka which many feel is becoming too crowded with ships from outside the region, including warships, frequently being sighted.

“If anything happened in that – in Singapore, in that waterway that you’re talking about, it would have global impact, and that’s why the security of and stability of Singapore is so important to us. So I think it should be of the entire world’s concern of this increased congestion of warships in that area of – it should be economic concern,” she said. — Bernama