MANILA – On the eve of the three-day official working visit to
Washington of President Benigno S. Aquino III, the United States Senate
on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution calling for increased defense
and security cooperation with the Philippines.
The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. said Senate Resolution
481, sponsored by Senator Richard Lugar (Republican, Indiana) was
approved unanimously by the chamber, adding that Washington was fully
committed to honoring its mutual obligations with Manila.
The resolution, which was co-sponsored by Senators John Kerry
(Democrat, Massachusetts); James Inhofe (Republican, Oklahoma); Jim Webb
(Democrat, Virginia); Kelly Ayotte (Democrat, New Hampshire); Tad
Cochran (Republican, Mississippi); and Daniel Inouye (Democrat, Hawaii),
also called on Manila and Washington to continue high-level
consultations.
In a statement released by his office, Lugar said: “The United
States–Philippines relationship represents shared sacrifice in defense
of freedom. While historically we have worked well together on multiple
fronts, it is necessary that the two countries discern new ways to
expand trade, account for their mutual defense and promote stability
throughout the region.”
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia Jr.
welcomed the adoption of the resolution, which Senator Lugar introduced
in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty
between the Philippines and the United States. The Treaty, which
was signed on August 30, 1951, requires both nations to support each
other if an external party attacked either.
“This is a very positive development that further underscores the
importance the United States places on its alliance with the
Philippines,” Cuisia said. “The Filipino people greatly appreciate this
gesture by our friends in the United States Senate.”
Cuisia said the resolution calls for increased cooperation and
enhanced bilateral security ties between the two countries, including
support for Philippine defense modernization, the rotational presence of
US forces and increased humanitarian and disaster relief preparedness
activities.
It also urged Washington to continue its efforts to assist Manila in
the areas of maritime security, maritime domain awareness, humanitarian
assistance and disaster relief and related communications infrastructure
to enable enhanced information sharing and overall military
professionalism.
The resolution mentioned the support the US government extended to
the Philippines, particularly the recent turnover to the Philippine Navy
of two decommissioned US Coast Guard cutters; the assistance provided
by US forces in recent calamities in the country; and the conduct of
more military exercises and other joint training activities with the
Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The resolution also cited the April 30 meetings where Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta reaffirmed to
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Defense Secretary
Voltaire Gazmin that Washington remains “fully committed to honoring
mutual obligations with the Philippines and that the alliance continues
to serve as a pillar of the Philippines-US relationship and a source of
stability in the region.”
The resolution also underscored the shared interest of the two
countries “in maintaining freedom of navigation, unimpeded lawful
commerce and transit of people across the seas and subscribe to a
rules-based approach in resolving competing claims in maritime areas
through peaceful, collaborative, multilateral and diplomatic processes
within the framework of international law.”
“The Senate confirms the alliance’s centrality and enduring value as
one of the key pillars of peace, stability and prosperity in the
Asia-Pacific region and as a key tool in addressing the emerging
security environment in the region,” the resolution read.
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| June 8, 2012 | Article Link
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