The relationship between the United States and the Philippines is the “strongest that it’s ever been,” declared Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a recent visit to the island nation.
“Our armed forces are working on more shared priorities in more places than ever before. We’re now allocating an additional $500 million in Foreign Military Financing to the Philippines to boost security collaboration with our oldest treaty ally in this region – new steps to strengthen the alliance: a once-in-a-generation investment to help modernize the Filipino armed forces and coast guard, our first bilateral Security Sector Assistance Roadmap, doubling our investments in the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement,” he said.
Of concern to both the United States and the Philippines are some of the actions that the People’s Republic of China has taken in the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and elsewhere. That’s why the U.S. welcomes the provisional agreement reached between the PRC and the Philippines on the rotation and resupply of the Second Thomas Shoal. Indeed, the first resupply mission subsequent to that understanding went forward without incident, noted Secretary Blinken:
“It’s very important that that be the standard, not the exception. And as I said to the Chinese foreign minister when we met in Laos a few days ago, China must uphold its commitments to not obstruct the Philippines in their resupply missions.”
The United States stands by its ironclad defense commitment to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty. That extends to armed attacks on Filipino armed forces, public vessels or aircraft – including the coast guard – anywhere in the Pacific, including the South China Sea.
The U.S. and the Philippines are equally focused on their economic partnership, said Secretary Blinken:
“The Philippines is a priority partner on semiconductor manufacturing. Twenty percent of global assembly, testing, and packaging takes place here in the Philippines. Thanks to the CHIPS Act, we’re finalizing collaboration to support the strengthening of Filipino capacity. We’re focused on workforce development as well as on regulatory reform.”
The U.S. is also investing in high-quality, high-impact infrastructure via the Luzon Economic Corridor through investments in rail, port modernization, clean energy, semiconductor supply chains, and agribusiness.
The partnership between the U.S. and the Philippines is more important than ever, said Secretary Blinken, “and our commitment to growing it now and for the years ahead is resolute.”
