Nebraska GOP Senator Pete Ricketts and Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing the U.S.-Philippines alliance.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the 75th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines, and the 10th anniversary of the landmark arbitral award upholding Manila’s sovereignty against escalating aggression and lawfare by China.
Senator Ricketts said in a press release in a press release: “The U.S.-Philippines Alliance has served as the anchor of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific for three quarters of a century. This resolution is a reminder to all that the United States will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Filipino allies. We will continue to honor our mutual security commitment as we expand the Alliance’s focus to manage economic security, technology competition, and supply chain challenges.”
The 15-point resolution celebrates the anniversaries of US-Filipino relations, acknowledges the growing threat from China, and urges the United States and president Donald Trump to support the Philippines and deepen relations with island Asian country.
Ricketts is chairman and Coons is the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, & International Cybersecurity Policy.
The full resolution is below:
- celebrates the 80th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the United States and the Philippines;
- celebrates the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines and the longstanding alliance between our 2 nations;
- condemns the People’s Republic of China’s refusal to accept the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Ruling that rejects its illegal and expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea;
- appreciates the trust of the Filipino people in our bilateral alliance and their support for increased defense cooperation and United States military presence in the Philippines;
- supports the United States-Philippines alliance’s expanding strategic focus on economic and supply chain security through the Luzon Economic Corridor, Pax Silica, and other measures to strengthen our partnership on critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, emerging technologies, energy, transport, and logistics;
- acknowledges the determination of the people and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to resist coercion by the People’s Republic of China;
- condemns the People’s Republic of China’s unprovoked aggression and political lawfare in the South China Sea to enforce its unlawful territorial and sovereignty claims;
- rejects the People’s Republic of China’s coercive and destabilizing plans to establish a so-called “national nature reserve” at Scarborough Reef;
- reaffirms that Article IV of the Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on the Armed Forces, public vessels, or aircraft of the Philippines, including the Philippine Coast Guard, anywhere in the South China Sea;
- considers aggression by the People’s Republic of China in the Philippines’ internationally recognized exclusive economic zone to be a direct assault on its sovereignty and territorial integrity;
- urges the President to continue to take appropriate and necessary actions in response to escalatory behavior of the People’s Republic of China in order to restore deterrence and to help the Philippines defend itself;
- supports the unwavering commitment of the United States to deepening security cooperation with the Philippines, including advancing Philippine defense modernization and enhancing interoperability through military exercises, training, joint patrols, and increased information sharing;
- supports other nations growing their political and security partnerships with the Philippines;
- commits to advance cooperation among the United States, the Philippines, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and other partners; and
- reaffirms the commitment of the United States to the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, respecting maritime rights under international law, and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.