WITH the Philippines' allowing US military forces to use as bases-on-demand nine civilian and military facilities as their platforms for a war with China, Filipino diplomats went to Washington last week excited that they could get something in return from the Americans in the so-called third Ministerial Dialogue of defense and foreign affairs officials of both countries.

They got nothing. Philippine diplomats were pushing for a commitment from the US to undertake talks for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that would lower or abolish tariff and non-tariff barriers on exports to the US.