When the levee breaks

RECENTLY, US ambassador to the Philippines, MaryKay Carlson, in an interview, claimed that the additional bases being proposed or planned to be put up in two provinces in the north — Cagayan and Isabela specifically — "would not only help the provincial and local authorities to enhance their ability to defend themselves but to grow their economy."

With regard to the proposed US-Philippine joint patrols in the South China Sea, Carlson said such activities would be one important component of making sure that the waterways are free and open.