UNITED States Vice President Kamala Harris yesterday reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to defend the Philippines in case of armed attacks and in pushing for the implementation of international rules and norms, especially in connection with the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea maritime issues.
“We must reiterate always that we stand with you in defense of international rules and norms as it relates to the South China Sea. Armed attack on the Philippines, armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US Mutual Defense commitments,” Harris said during a courtesy call on President Marcos Jr. at Malacañang.
Marcos said the two nations’ strong ties had become even more important, given what he called “upheavals” in the region.
“I do not see a future for the Philippines that does not include the United States,” said Marcos, the son of the late strongman whom Washington helped flee into exile in Hawaii during the 1986 “people power” uprising.
Harris’ visit is seen largely as Washington’s effort to revive ties with Manila, an Asian ally central to US efforts to counter China’s increasingly assertive policies towards Taiwan.
Harris, who arrived last Sunday night, is on a three-day trip to the Philippines that includes a stop on Palawan today, Tuesday, to meet officials of the Philippine Coast Guard, tour one of its vessels and speak on “principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and freedom of navigation,” a senior US official said.
China claims most of the South China Sea, though a 2016 ruling by an arbitration tribunal in the Hague said Beijing’s claims had no legal basis, delivering a victory for Manila.
The Philippines, however, has been unable to enforce the ruling and has since filed hundreds of protests over what it calls encroachment and harassment by China’s coast guard and its vast fishing fleet.
While in Palawan, Harris will also reaffirm Washington’s support for the 2016 tribunal ruling, the US official said on condition of anonymity.
Aside from the Philippines and China, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims in the area.
Meanwhile, dozens of protesters rallied against the visit by Harris, saying they did not want the Philippines to be caught between US and Chinese rivalry.
“We don’t want our country to be used as a pin board or launching pad of the wars of the United States against China or any other country,” said Liza Maza, an official of the International League of People’s Struggle.
Harris arrived in the Philippines after attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Thailand.
She was accompanied by her husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who turned over to Caloocan City Mayor Dale “Along” Malapitan yesterday the US government’s donations of hygiene kits and other coronavirus disease (COVID-19) supplies. Emhoff said the US government, through the USAID, has allotted an additional $5 million funding for the Philippine’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
Harris and Marcos met briefly on the sidelines of the APEC.
She said that included in the agenda of her talk with the President were some issues of mutual concern such as the climate crisis, investments, renewable energy, job creation, as well as the two countries’ bilateral relationship.
She also relayed the greeting of US President Joe Biden to Marcos and mentioned that the US now hosts around four million Fil-Ams in the US.
Marcos welcomed Harris on her first visit in the country and even teased her that the reason why she is visiting “some of the prettiest parts of the Philippines in Palawan” was just to go to the resorts and beaches.
Marcos said their exchange on the sidelines of APEC had been brief and it is unfortunate that Harris’ visit to the country was also short.
He said the visit of Harris is a “strong symbol” that the US-Philippines’ relations remain strong and important.
He also thanked Harris for reaffirming the US’ “very strong commitment… to the defense of the Philippines.”
Marcos said that as the two countries have come to depend on each other and “the more the upheavals that we are seeing, especially in the region, this partnership becomes even more important.”
“The situation is rapidly changing. We must evolve to be properly responsive to that situation. And so that is why it is very important that we continue to progress, that we continue to strengthen as we redefine those relationships. Your visit is a very strong symbol that these relationships remain strong, that these relationships remain important as indeed they do,” he said.
The President earlier said Harris’ visit to Palawan should not cause any tension with China as she is visiting a province that is well within the country’s territory.
Harris yesterday met with Vice President Sara Duterte during a courtesy call where they bonded over their love for food, particularly lumpia, the Filipino version of spring rolls that happens to be Harris’ favorite.
During their bilateral meeting at the Aguado House near Malacañang, Duterte told Harris she should try Filipino favorites like kare-kare, adobo, and lechon after the American Vice President said she takes food “seriously.”
“I love lumpia too,” Harris told Duterte. “I have many people working in my office who are Filipino-American, so whenever we have holiday parties, there is a big table of (lumpia).”
Duterte told Harris that both fresh and fried lumpia are really good, to which her American counterpart said she really likes the fried ones with lemon dipping sauce.
Among those who were in the meeting were Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, and US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson.
Harris said she was impressed by Duterte’s work since she is also the country’s concurrent education secretary, to which Duterte said she was looking forward to the institutionalization of the blended learning modality amid the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Duterte said the adverse impact of the pandemic on children’s education was enormous, resulting in learning losses, especially to younger learners.
Harris also reiterated that the US strongly commits to back the Philippines against forces that might attack the country, to which Duterte said that coming from Mindanao, one of her agenda is security and anti-terrorism.
“Security is my first love,” said Duterte whose father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, is being investigated by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his bloody war on drugs.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday lauded the new initiatives launched by the US in its pursuit of a revitalized alliance with the Philippines under Marcos Jr.
In a statement, the DFA said it is a welcome development to have a “cross-cutting” list of new initiatives to strengthen the PH-US ties after its cold relations under the Duterte administration.
“The Philippines welcomes the announcement from the White House on new initiatives to strengthen the PH-US alliance on the occasion of Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to Manila,” said the DFA.
“The initiatives, which cover the core and cross-cutting issues of climate change, food security, energy security, digital economy, as well as the overall promotion of regional peace and stability, represent concrete deliverables,” it added.
The DFA also said the visit of the second highest US official simply shows how important it is for the two countries to revive their long-standing alliance.
“It is important that our two countries work together to advance our shared objectives in the bilateral, regional, and global spheres,” the DFA said. “The visit of Vice President Harris shall further strengthen our partnership, alliance, and friendship.” — With Gerard Naval and Wendell Vigilia
