RELATIONS between the Philippines and the United States (US) are now “stronger than ever,” American Vice President Kamala Harris said Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).
Harris made the statement as she and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff welcomed President Marcos Jr. and his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos to their official residence at the Number One Observatory Circle in the US Naval Observatory, where they also hosted breakfast for the First Couple.
Also present were Speaker Martin Romualdez, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez, and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, among others
“I want to thank you because the strength of the alliance between the United States and the Philippines is probably stronger now. And through your leadership we have been able to continue to do the work that we have that is a priority around our mutual prosperity and security,” Harris said in welcoming Marcos.
The President acknowledged the Vice President for “laying the groundwork” towards a revitalized and stronger partnership that led to his official visit.
“You are our only treaty partner in the world… I’m very, very happy to be here, for this opportunity to speak with you,” he said.
Harris also talked about her visit to the Philippines last year and reaffirmed the US promise to stand by the Philippines amid tension in contested waters.
“I think that has given us the very, very attractive opportunity to continue to strengthen the relationship between our two countries in the face — in the context of all of the difficulties and complexities, the rising tensions in our region and the world. And once again, we turn to our American partners, our only treaty partner in the world,” Marcos said.
‘CONCERNED’
Marcos said he is very concerned about the continued provocation from China in the South China Sea.
“As concerned as you could possibly be. It is one of the major issues that we have to face back home,” he said.
Asked if the security cooperation between the Philippines and the US will get the Philippines closer to protecting the region, he said, “Cooperation with the United States certainly is just something that we are building upon that has been going on for many, many, many decades. And we just keep going,” Marcos said.
The President and Harris have agreed that Manila and Washington must continue to work together to address the issues in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea through their respective coast guards.
Days before Marcos left for the US on April 30, reports came out of a near-collision between vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard and the China Coast Guard off Ayungin Shoal on April 23. Ayungin is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
China, which is claiming most of the South China Sea, is maintaining presence in the disputed waters, preventing Filipinos from fishing in their traditional fishing grounds.
Marcos and US President Joseph Biden, in a meeting on May 1, affirmed the two countries’ “unwavering commitment” to freedom of navigation and overflight in the West Philippine Sea, as well as the importance of respecting the sovereign rights of states within their exclusive economic zones, consistent with international law.
PH-US BOND
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, on Monday night in the US (Tuesday in Manila), recognized the 70-year-old bond between two countries which was initially based on arbitral defense and security but it has grown stronger over the years.
“And just last year, thanks to the leadership of President (Joseph) Biden and President Marcos, we have significantly strengthened our alliance. We’ve launched new initiatives together to create economic opportunities for Americans and Filipinos alike,” he added during dinner hosted for Marcos and his delegation.
Among these initiatives are the “first ever presidential trade and investment mission to the Philippines” that Biden is sending; new clean energy projects that will increase power outputs in the Philippines as well as create good-paying jobs for both our countries; and the security modernization program in the Philippines.
Marcos, in the same event, said trade relations and other partnerships between the Philippines and the US must be “continually revisited” to ensure that both parties would mutually benefit from these initiatives.
Marcos said the partnerships between the two countries such as in defense, trade, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges “have been going on for a hundred years” but “still needs to be continually revisited so as we can make the most of our friendship and our partnership.”
AID
A fact sheet released by the US said that during Marcos’ latest visit, the US through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has committed over $3 billion worth of public and private financing to strengthen the Philippines’ critical mineral supply chains, advance smart grid technologies and clean energy solutions, promote secure 5G deployment, strengthen airport security and maritime safety, support healthcare infrastructure and scale up infrastructure development through construction of high-quality railways, ports, and transport systems.
The US also affirmed its support for future Filipino leaders through a $70-million support program for more than 2,000 exchange participants between the Philippines and the US over the next 10 years. This will allow for an expansion of the Fulbright program, the International Visitor Leadership Program, the Philippines Youth Leadership Program, the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative, the Humphrey program, and other bilateral exchange initiatives with the Philippines.
USAID will launch a $30-million next-generation higher education partnership to strengthen the Philippine education system by building and expanding Philippine universities and supporting their curriculum development, faculty training, higher education policy and management, research, and community engagement.
The two countries are also establishing a Philippines-US Friendship Fellowship (PUFF), which is designed to provide Philippine students and young professionals with unique educational opportunities in the United States, building life-long ties among the next generation of Philippine and American innovators and leaders.
ASSETS TRANSFER
The Navy and the Air Force welcomed the US plan to transfer four patrol ships and three C-130H transport aircraft as part of its continuing efforts to assist in modernizing the Armed Forces.
“We wish to convey our sincere appreciation to the US government of this gesture,” said Navy spokesman Capt. Benjo Negranza of the planned transfer of the four ships.
Negranza said the four patrol vessels, once received by the Navy, will help a lot in performing its duty in protecting the country’s sovereignty.
“Upon receipt of these vessels, it will definitely capacitate the Armed Forces of the Philippines in its mandate to defend the national sovereignty and secure our maritime domain,” said Negranza.
On the transfer of three C-130H aircraft, Air Force spokeswoman Col. Maria Consuelo Castillo said these aircraft will boost the PAF’s heavy-lift capability.
“Any equipment, platform that can augment our cargo airlift fleet will be of great help in the transport of personnel and logistics for our focused military operations and in our HADR missions in response to calamities and disasters,” said Castillo.
The US has transferred a number of equipment and platforms to the Armed Forces over the past years as contribution to the military’s ongoing modernization efforts.
On Tuesday (Philippine time), the US announced it intends to transfer two island-class and two protector-class patrol vessels and three C-130H in “support the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization program by enhancing its maritime and tactical lift capabilities.”
The announcement came more than a month after US transferred two combat-proven cyclone-class vessels, USS Monsoon and USS Chinook, to the Philippine Navy. — With Victor Reyes
