United States Foreign Relations Philippines

Hailing a "ferocious love of freedom," President Clinton today toured two of the Philippines' most hallowed World War II shrines to honor the fallen and try to strengthen the passionate but often-strained U.S.-Philippine alliance. In his first commemoration of Pacific fighting 50 years ago, Clinton scanned a sea of 18,000 Allied grave markers at the Manila American Cemetery and declared "time has diminished none of our pride in them.

President Clinton and Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos vowed Monday to work out a "new partnership" between their two countries, including increased security cooperation, in an effort to ease tensions caused by the ouster of American forces from former U.S. bases in the Philippines.

With tears, cheers and a 21-gun salute on the windy shores of this scenic port, the United States bade a final emotional farewell Tuesday to Subic Bay, long its largest overseas military base, and formally closed a remarkable chapter in both American and Philippine history. At precisely 10 a.m., a Marine honor guard hauled down and crisply folded the American flag for the final time at the last U.S. base in America's former colony. Moments later, Philippine President Fidel V.

Shortly after noon today, the U.S. assault ship Belleau Wood is to raise anchor and set sail from this once-mighty U.S. Navy base, ending an era in Philippine--U.S. relations. The ship will carry the last U.S. military forces from the Philippines, 94 years after America seized its only colony in its first foreign war. Washington once had dozens of bases here, but the Philippine Senate last year refused to permit further deployment, calling the troops a violation of national sovereignty.

U.S. and Philippine officials will consider arranging limited future access for American military forces in the Philippines after the last U.S. bases here are closed down, Secretary of State James A. Baker III said Saturday. Emerging from a 30-minute meeting with newly elected Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos, Baker told reporters that military access for the United States will be discussed in November at a meeting of the Mutual Defense Board.

Fifty years after one of the darkest days in World War II, one that saw the worst defeat in U.S. military history and the start of the infamous Bataan Death March from this bloodstained battlefield, Philippine President Corazon Aquino assured cheering war veterans that she is still bitter. Not at the Japanese, however. At the Americans.

The U.S. Navy already has begun withdrawing heavy equipment from Subic Bay Naval Base, and a senior U.S. official said Friday that Washington is committed to meeting a Philippine government deadline to shut America's largest naval base in Asia before the end of 1992.

The Philippine government served notice today that the United States must close its largest naval base in Asia by the end of 1992, ending nearly a century of American military presence in this former colony. The eviction notice came in the form of a statement from President Corazon Aquino's top aide after the last in a series of negotiations to extend the U.S. presence at Subic Bay Naval Base broke down during a morning meeting between Aquino and U.S. Ambassador Frank Wisner.

As bugles blared retreat and a farewell honor guard stood at attention, the American flag was slowly lowered for the last time here Tuesday as the United States formally turned over its oldest and once-largest overseas base to the Philippines. Within an hour of the solemn ceremony, dozens of looters were reported climbing over fences toward a base housing complex and ripping out major electric cables.

Diplomats attending a quiet meeting at the white-columned U.S. Embassy here suddenly burst into applause when White House special negotiator Richard L. Armitage walked in July 17, shortly after finishing 14 months of contentious talks over the future of the giant U.S. Navy base at Subic Bay. Many in the room knew that Armitage had come prepared to pay Manila $250 million a year for a seven-year lease.