OUTGOING United States Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday emphasized the importance of sustaining the US’ support for the Philippines, especially in light of China’s continued aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
“Indeed, and I will tell you from my first visit to Manila and our first conversation, it is extremely important to me and to the United States that we reaffirm the commitment to the defense of the Philippines including the South China Sea,” Harris said during her telephone conversation with President Marcos Jr. on Tuesday night.
Harris’ call came a day after the virtual call among Marcos, US President Joseph Biden Jr. and Japan Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru on Monday.
The US, in a readout, said the Vice President had affirmed the importance of continued defense of international rules and norms in the South China Sea in the face of provocations from China.
She “noted the United States must stand with the Philippines in the face of such provocations and the enduring nature of the US defense commitments to the Philippines.”
She also reflected on her historic visit to the Philippines, especially her trip to Palawan in November 2022, where she underscored “the vulnerability in the region.”
She was then the highest-ranking US official to visit Palawan.
Harris also highlighted the “bipartisan support” within Congress and Washington for strengthening ties with the Philippines, especially in terms of security, economic prosperity and people-to-people connections.
Marcos expressed optimism that the strong and dynamic relationship between the Philippines and the US would be sustained under the incoming administration of American President Donald Trump as he committed to work on the achievements and the cooperation that had been started under the outgoing Biden-Harris government.
The President, in a social media post, said he had the pleasure of talking with US Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday night (Manila time) whom he had acknowledged for her efforts in laying a strong solid foundation to strengthen the Philippines-US ties.
“We also took the opportunity to reflect on the long-standing partnership between the Philippines and the United States. Her efforts have laid a solid foundation across many areas, and we are committed to building on this progress to further strengthen the ties between our nations,” Marcos said on Instagram.
He said he had also conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the wildfires in Los Angeles.
Biden and Harris have been engaging in calls with allies and partners ahead of the end of their terms on January 20.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO), in a news release, said Marcos and Harris had talked of the achievements in the areas of economics, diplomacy, and defense and security under the Biden-Harris administration.
“And the progress that we have made is terribly encouraging and we just hope to build on that and continue to work on what we have begun and continue to stand for our shared values and the rule of international law,” the President had said.
“Already a very strong relationship but evolving for the modern challenges that we face, both for us and the South China Sea and for the United States around the world,” Marcos said.
The President also said the trilateral ties among the Philippines, the US and Japan have already gained recognition within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) especially in strengthening their collective position on pressing issues in the West Philippine Sea.
“As I told President Biden I remember that just before we signed the trilateral agreement in Washington, that this will change the dynamic of the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific. And it certainly has done that,” Marcos said.
Formal diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the United States were established on July 4, 1946.
The US is the Philippines’ oldest and only treaty ally in the region.
LIKE-MINDED ALLIES
Japan Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, during his courtesy call on Marcos in Malacanang yesterday, emphasized the importance of “cooperation of like-minded countries” amid divisions and conflicts in the world.
He also called for continued support in strengthening the cooperation between Japan and the Philippines amid security issues and other global affairs.
“The Philippines is a strategic partner of Japan as we share fundamental values and principles. In today’s international community where divisions and conflicts are becoming more serious, the cooperation of like-minded countries is becoming increasingly important,’ he said.
“In order to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, I would like to ask for your continued support in strengthening cooperation between Japan and the Philippines on security issues and other global affairs,” he added.
The Japanese leader also said that Japan is looking forward to welcoming many Filipinos during the Osaka-Kansai expo and the Philippine National Day on June 7.
He also conveyed Ishiba’s regards to Marcos.
The President said the Foreign Minister’s visit comes at a very opportune time as it followed his trilateral talk with Biden and Ishiba.
Marcos said the Philippines had reiterated its commitment to the trilateral agreement with the US and Japan.
“I think that it is good that we continue these discussions, I hope that we will be able to have a chance, the Philippine side, to explain and show what has been done in terms of the agreement since the signing of the tripartite agreement,” he said.
The Philippines, the US, and Japan, on April 12, 2024, established a trilateral maritime security and economic cooperation.