MARCHING SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER TOWARDS AN ALLIANCE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY Remarks by Hon. ALBERT F. DEL ROSARIO Secretary of Foreign Affairs Opening Ceremony for Balikatan 2014 5 May 2014, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Ladies and gentlemen, Please allow me to begin by conveying that the Philippines and the United States are justly proud of you, the men and women of our armed services. You are the bulwarks of our liberties and the protectors of our ways of life. You stand for our values and our commitment to a common defense under our bilateral Mutual Defense Treaty. Last week, at the summit between H.E. President Benigno S. Aquino III and H.E. President Barack Obama, we reaffirmed those ties once again. We stand tall, not simply as allies, but more importantly as friends. Today as in the past, we are bound together by the principles of democracy and freedom. The world around us may change, but our dedication to the defense and promotion of those principles does not. PH-US Relations: Modern, Mature and Forward-Looking Times, indeed, have changed. The Cold War has ended. Bipolarity has given way to increasing multipolarity. New regional powers are on the scene in building a regional community where before there were deep regional divisions. Democracy has advanced since People Power in the Philippines inspired freedom elsewhere. We now confront the new threats of terrorism and continue to endure systemic security and economic problems, both regionally and globally. Through it all, our bilateral alliance has not only survived, but it has shown a profound ability to adapt to changing needs and realities. Echoing this constancy, President Barack Obama articulated the policy of seven US Presidents before him who visited the Philippines when he said that “allies never stand alone.” The State Visit of President Obama to the Philippines, indeed, highlighted the deepening and broadening of our already robust partnership. With the launch of the Balikatan exercises today, its 30th iteration, we have once again shown the world the strength and continuing relevance of our alliance, and its ability to confront new challenges. Just last November, in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda or Haiyan, the Philippine and United States militaries worked shoulder-to-shoulder in providing timely humanitarian assistance and rapid disaster response. Again, accept if you will, a grateful nation’s appreciation for both Philippine and American forces for their acts of heroism in helping save lives and communities. Since an important dimension of this year’s Balikatan is its humanitarian civic assistance, we are furthermore pleased to note that some of these activities will be conducted in Yolanda-affected areas such as Tacloban and Bicol. A new Chapter in Defense Cooperation Ladies and gentlemen, Joint exercises like Balikatan are important elements in our continuing efforts to build our capacities to secure and defend our people and territory. As our only treaty ally, the United States has always been a key partner of the Philippines in building our defense capabilities. On Monday last week, we further strengthened our alliance with the conclusion of the Philippines-United States Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement or EDCA. The EDCA elevates to a higher plane our defense engagement and provides new momentum to our partnership. This Agreement increases the regional significance of our defense alliance, which has been a cornerstone of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific. More importantly, the Agreement will boost Philippine capabilities in the areas of maritime security, maritime domain awareness, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response. With the EDCA, we will be able to preposition equipment in agreed locations, allowing our militaries to respond more rapidly in times of emergencies like Typhoon Yolanda. In responding to the ‘new normal’ like Yolanda, a speedy response means that more lives will be saved. A clear majority of the Filipino people, in fact, support this Agreement. A recent Social Weather Stations survey showed that more than 7 out of 10 Filipinos support measures to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities and that the Philippines may ask its partners in achieving this objective. Addressing Current Challenges In recent years, tensions in the Asia-Pacific region have increased due to excessive and expansive maritime and territorial claims, undermining the rule of law. Aggressive patterns of behavior, aimed at changing the status quo, threaten peace and stability in the region. As the United States’ oldest security ally in Southeast Asia and one of the five treaty allies in the Asia-Pacific, the Philippines contributes to and has an important role to play in maintaining regional stability. This is part of the context of the enhancement of Philippine-U.S. defense cooperation. Balikatan 2014, with its focus on maritime security, strongly supports our capabilities to address these challenges. Balikatan activities and exercises not only teach our militaries to work together, but also build Philippine capacity for defense and security, modernizing this alliance in step with the needs of the 21st century. Towards a 21st Century Alliance Under the Mutual Defense Treaty for over 60 years, our alliance and friendship stood the passage of time. This enduring alliance has witnessed the emergence of complex global and regional challenges ranging from terrorism and transnational crimes, to climate change and humanitarian crises. Our 21st century partnership must, therefore, not only address the challenges to regional stability but also harness opportunities to enhance that stability. It is imperative for us to adapt and respond rapidly, whether in humanitarian assistance and disaster response, information-sharing, or in collective peacekeeping under UN auspices. Both our Leaders agree to “modernize” our defense alliance. Balikatan and the EDCA guarantee that our men and women in uniform are prepared and are capable to work side by side in the face of uncertainties and new realities. As our soldiers march shoulder-to-shoulder towards the future, our alliance must remain strong, steady and steadfast. We welcome the clear statement made by President Obama that America’s commitment to defend the Philippines is ‘ironclad.’ Without a doubt, our alliance is enduring, forged by common sacrifices, anchored on a commitment to democratic values, and deepened by a shared history. As we open Balikatan 2014 today, I am honored to be here with our brave men and women in uniform. Your commitment to protect our countries inspires us. Your courage and patriotism rally us. Your sacrifices will remain forever in our hearts and in those of all the generations that follow us. On behalf of the Filipino people, allow me the privilege of saluting you.
Posted on: Mon, 05 May 2014 06:39:10 +0000
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