Page 31 - Hello Philippines January 2016 'B' issue

January 2016 / Fortnightly – No. 2 • UK & Europe Edition PHILIPPINE EMBASSY AROUND THE WORLD
PHL Secretaries Engage US Senate
Armed Services Committee Leadership
PHILIPPINE Secretary of Foreign
Affairs Albert F. del Rosario and
Secretary of Defense Voltaire Gazmin
met with Senator John McCain (R-
AZ) and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI),
Chairman and ranking member of the
US Senate Armed Services Committee,
respectively, on January 12.
“We wish to thank the Senate Armed
Services Committee for the priority it
has accorded to US engagement with
Asia-Pacific and for the Committee’s
statements calling for stronger US
presence in the region,” Secretary Del
Rosario said on behalf of the Philippine Del Rosario thanked the Committee
delegation.
The Senate Armed Services
Committee has demonstrated keen
interest in developments in Asia,
particularly on the issue of maritime
security. One of the Committee’s most
significant initiatives in this regard
was the introduction of the Maritime
Security Initiative in the FY 2016
National Defense Authorization Act
(NDAA) that allots US$50 million to
help enhance the maritime security
capacities of countries in Southeast
2016 Joint Statement of The United States-Philippines Ministerial Dialogue
SECRETARY of State John Kerry and
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter met
with Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert tourism, and development programs.
F. del Rosario and Secretary of Defense
Voltaire T. Gazmin in Washington, D.C.
on January 12, 2016 for the Second U.S.- Partnership. To enhance security and
Philippines Two-Plus-Two Ministerial
Dialogue.
U.S.-Philippine relations are
anchored on a common history and
a shared commitment to upholding
democratic values and the rule of law.
Welcoming the Philippine Supreme
Court’s decision that the Enhanced
Defense Cooperation Agreement
(EDCA) is consistent with the
Philippine Constitution, the Ministers
reaffirmed their commitment to
continue strengthening the Alliance,
in terms of ensuring both countries’
mutual defense and security as well as
jointly contributing to regional peace,
stability, and economic prosperity.
Common Strategic Objectives.
The Ministers reaffirmed the Alliance’s
Common Strategic Objectives of
2012 and articulated the following
additional Common Strategic
Objectives to strengthen bilateral
engagement:
• Expand opportunities for more
robust cooperative security assistance
programs, particularly on maritime
security and maritime domain
awareness.
• Pursue and coordinate programs
with other interested partners for
capacity building of the Philippines in
defense, security, counter-terrorism,
and maritime law enforcement.
• Collaborate on initiatives
Asia, including the Philippines.
President Barack Obama first unveiled
this maritime assistance plan when he
was in Manila last November.
The two Secretaries also noted
Senator McCain’s comments against
China’s recent test flight over
Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) Reef and the
Committee’s consistent efforts to prod
the US Government to continue with
legitimate challenges to China’s illegal
claims in the South China Sea.
On the arbitration case, Secretary
and Senator McCain for expressing
support to the Arbitral Tribunal’s
decision on the question of jurisdiction;
freedom of navigations operations;
and the decision of the Philippine
Supreme Court that affirmed the
constitutionality of the Enhanced
Defense Cooperation Agreement
(EDCA).
In a statement dated January
12, Senator McCain welcomed the
Supreme Court’s decision, saying that
“This landmark agreement between
the United States and the Philippines
to enhance economic relations
encompassing trade, investment,
Bilateral Security and Defense
defense cooperation, the Ministers
committed to:
• Enhance the Philippines’ maritime
security presence and maritime domain
awareness capabilities through, inter
alia, the Maritime Security Initiative. The the keen interest of the Philippines in
United States is transferring a third high- the Trans Pacific Partnership and its
endurance cutter and a research vessel to
the Philippines this year.
• Coordinate closely on the
implementation of the Enhanced
Defense Cooperation Agreement
(EDCA), a mutually beneficial agreement
that will enhance the United States’
ability to provide rapid humanitarian
assistance and help build capacity for the
modernization of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines.
• Strengthen the defense capabilities
of the Philippines in order to establish
a credible defense posture through
robust cooperative security assistance
programs.
• Enhance military - to - military
cooperation and inter-operability
through, inter alia, joint exercises,
capacity-building, and intelligence
sharing.
• Support work to establish a robust
information security program, which
will lead to achieving a General Security
of Military Information Agreement
(GSOMIA). Towards this end, both sides
decided to pursue an exchange of visits of
the appropriate officials in 2016.
• Enhance cyber security cooperation.
Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Secretary Albert del Rosario meet with Senator John McCain and Jack Reed, US Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman and ranking
member, respectively, on January 12 in Washington, D.C.
will bring our alliance to a level of
cooperation and integration that we
have not witnessed in decades.”
He further said, “As Manila finds
itself the target of Chinese coercion
in the West Philippine Sea and is
looking to Washington for leadership,
this agreement will give us new
tools to deepen our alliance with the
Philippines, expand engagement with
the Philippine Armed Forces, and
enhance our presence in Southeast
Asia.”
Economic Relationship. The
Ministers recognized the vibrant economic Development through the Partnership
relationship between the United States
and the Republic of the Philippines and
decided to expand the relationship based
on a mutual commitment to free trade,
economic opportunity, and poverty
reduction. The Ministers:
• Discussed ways to build a stronger
and more robust economic partnership
through increased bilateral trade and
investment. The Ministers also discussed
interest in bilateral consultations on
the outcomes of the agreement and the
process for new members.
• Noted that the first compact between would be legally binding on both China
the Philippines and the Millennium
Challenge Corporation, which is to be
successfully completed in May 2016,
contributed to the Philippine Government
efforts to reduce poverty and corruption. construction on, and militarization of
Welcoming the Philippines’ selection for
a second compact, they committed to
work together to develop appropriate
programs to address the constraints to
the growth of the Philippine economy.
They expressed optimism on the progress
of identifying potential projects and
reforms in the months ahead.
• Discussed ways to build a stronger,
more robust, and more inclusive and
resilient economic growth through
continued collaboration in the areas
of democracy and governance,
economic growth, education, energy
and environment, health, innovation,
agriculture, and infrastructure
development. They noted the strong
collaboration of the Philippines with
Secretary Del Rosario and
Secretary Gazmin were in the
US capital for the second Two-
Plus-Two Ministerial Dialogue
also held on January 12 at the US
Department of State. They led the
Philippine delegation composed of
Philippine Ambassador to the United
States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., Defense
Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino,
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary
Maria Andrelita Austria, Defense
Assistant Secretary Raymond Quilop,
the U.S. Agency for International
for Growth.
Regional and International
Cooperation. The Ministers discussed
regional and global challenges that
threaten peace and stability and the rule
of law. Secretary del Rosario and Secretary
Gazmin welcomed the reaffirmation of
the ironclad U.S. commitment to the
defense the Philippines.
The Ministers underscored the need
for all parties to refrain from provocative, regional security architecture based
unilateral actions that aim to change the
status quo in the South China Sea, and
noted that the ruling of the U.N. Law
of the Sea Convention arbitral tribunal
and the Philippines. The Ministers also
highlighted the importance of parties
taking active steps to reduce tensions,
including halting the reclamation,
outposts in the South China Sea and to
refrain from any actions that harass,
coerce, or intimidate other parties in the
South China Sea.
In particular, the Ministers shared
concern over recent test flights at Fiery
Cross Reef, which exacerbate tensions
and are inconsistent with the region’s
commitments to exercise restraint from
actions that could complicate or escalate
disputes.
The Ministers expressed concern
regarding large-scale land reclamation
of occupied features, as well as the
construction of new facilities and
airstrips on them, and their impact on
the marine environment, and recognized
the importance of the SCS to the welfare
www.hello-philippines.com 31
Consul General Henry Bensurto, Vice
Admiral Alexander Lopez, and other
government officials.
The Two-Plus-Two Ministerial
Dialogue is the highest level policy
consultative mechanism between the
Philippine and US Governments. The
first Philippines-US Two-Plus-Two
Ministerial Dialogue, which was held
on April 30, 2012 in Washington,
D.C., was considered a milestone in
the bilateral relations. n Philippine Embassy
Philipines / January 14, 2016
and livelihoods of the many people
who have for generations depended on
the living resources of the South China
Sea.
The Ministers strongly condemned
North Korea’s recent nuclear test,
which threatens regional peace and
stability and directly violates multiple
U.N. Security Council resolutions.
The Ministers affirmed their
commitment to pursue a rules-based
on mutual respect and cooperation
through engagements in multilateral
platforms facilitated by the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),
including the ASEAN Regional Forum,
the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-
Plus, and the East Asia Summit.
On climate change, the Ministers
expressed their commitment to
implement the Paris Agreement. They
also recognized that without adequate
efforts to address climate change, the
impacts of rising temperatures and
changing precipitation patterns may
heighten the risk of instability and
conflict, which necessitate actions to
ensure survival of the most vulnerable
populations.
The Ministers joined in condemning
transnational crimes, radicalization,
violent extremism, as well as crimes
against humanity, and agreed to
cooperatively address these issues.
Conclusion. The Ministers
acknowledged the importance of
today’s discussions and committed
to hold the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue
regularly. n Philippine Embassy Philippines /
January 12, 2016