<<  <  >  >>

Washington still

the latter), Mongolia has never before figured

in East Asia with which America's security ties

in U.S. defense strategy. However, explained

are weaker today than a few years ago.

pines for its for-

DOD,

Naturally, Washington is dissatisfied with that

mer military

situation and is moving to "solidify the U.S.-

bases in the

The United States supports contin-

Philippines security partnership in the coming

ued specialized military training and

years." One aspect of that is negotiation over a

Philippines. It

education  through  the  IMET

Visiting Forces Agreement to govern "routine

took a volcanic

[International Military Education

combined exercises and training, and ship vis-

eruption to cause

and Training] program, future joint

its." Moreover, new training activities are

training in such areas as disaster pre-

planned. Reports DOD, "We are gradually

the United States

paredness, peacekeeping and human-

establishing a post-bases relationship that is

to relinquish

itarian assistance, expansion of our

consistent with our activities elsewhere in the

nascent policy dialogue on interna-

region--exercises, ship visits, exchanges, and

those installa-

tional and security issues, and the

policy dialogues."25

tions.

establishment of regular high-level

Singapore

political and military visits between

our countries.21

America has forged important military ties

with this city-state, which offered to upgrade

New Zealand

base access in the wake of America's departure

from the Philippines. (For instance, the

Defense relations between America and

Changi Naval Station can now accommodate

New Zealand remain in limbo, having been

U.S. aircraft carriers.) Moreover, reports DOD,

suspended in the mid-1980s after the latter

"Singapore has been Southeast Asia's leading

nation barred U.S. nuclear-armed and nuclear-

advocate of a continued U.S. military presence.

powered vessels from its waters. Still, "the U.S.

Singapore actively searches for ways to keep

hopes that in the future conditions will allow

the United States engaged in the region."26

full restoration of military cooperation with

New Zealand."22

Taiwan

Pacific Islands

Reports the Pentagon, "The United States

maintains robust but unofficial relations with

Washington makes no pretense that its

the people on Taiwan."27 The administration

relationships with these entities entail mutual

responsibilities. For instance, the DOD report

cites defensive arms sales to the Republic of

asserts that the United States has an obliga-

China (ROC). Unmentioned is the ambiguous

tion to protect the security of the Republic of

but seemingly serious commitment to defend

the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau,

the island nation from Chinese attack.

and the Federated States of Micronesia.23

In late 1995 and early 1996 Beijing com-

bined verbal threats with missile tests in

Those were among the ties that Washington

response to what appeared to be Taiwan's

had declared as important as ever in its previ-

increasing moves toward independence.

ous report.24

Washington responded with a warning of

Philippines

"grave consequences," meaning military inter-

vention, should hostilities erupt between the

Washington still pines for its former mili-

two Chinas and sent an aircraft carrier

tary bases in the Philippines. It took a volcanic

through the Taiwan Strait, allegedly because

eruption that covered Clark Air Base with a

of weather conditions. During his 1998 visit to

layer of ash and mud and a subsequent rejec-

Beijing, the president seemed to tilt in favor of

tion of a lease renewal for Clark and Subic Bay

the PRC's position regarding Taiwan, yet

Naval Base by the Philippine senate to cause

administration officials insisted that U.S. pol-

the United States to relinquish those installa-

icy had not changed. As a result, the overall

tions. The Philippines is about the only nation

5