The United States respects Philippine sovereignty and independence.
This was stressed yesterday by visiting US Assistant Secretary of
State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel R. Russel, pointing out
that the American government conducts training for capacity building
programs which is crucial to protecting the autonomy and promoting
self-reliance of the Philippines.
He added that the US does not want countries to have to choose between America and China.
Russel said it is simply a mistake to think that improved relations between Manila and Beijing somehow come at the expense of the US.
“That’s not the way that we think,” said Russel. “This should be addition and not subtraction.”
Emerging from an hour-long closed-door conference with Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. Monday morning, Assistant Secretary Russel emphasized that what the US government do want is for countries “to have choices, to have autonomy, and to make their own decisions in keeping with their own democratic values and in keeping with international law.”
Apparently, the meeting held at the Department of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Pasay City was an opportunity for the US State Department official to try to get a better explanation of what President Duterte meant when he announced during his recent visit to China about his country’s “separation” from the US and where such comment is leading.
Russel noted that President Duterte has already worked out and explained the comment describing it as a reference to maintaining an independent foreign policy.
“If separation means that the government in Manila makes its own foreign policy decisions based on its own assessment of the Philippine national interest, then there’s no need for change,” he pointed out.
“If it’s the policy of the Philippines to honoring its Constitution and makes its own decision on the basis of autonomy, independence, and self-reliance, then that’s consistent with the way that the US and the Philippines have partnered as allies.”
‘Climate of uncertainty’
The visiting US official pointed out during his meeting with Secretary Yasay, that the succession of controversial statements and comments issued by President Duterte has bred a “little climate of uncertainty” over the Philippine government’s actual intentions which in turn has created consternation among a number of not only among governments but with other communities as well and also in corporate boardrooms.
“This is not a positive trend,” said Russel. “The growing uncertainty about this and other issues are bad for business.”
He said he likewise candidly shared with the Philippine Foreign Affairs secretary about the concern in the loss of lives in connection with the anti-narcotics campaign of the Duterte administration.
And although Washington strongly supports the efforts against the scourge of drugs, Russel also reiterated the importance the US places on due process and respect for the rights of citizens as a vital part of protecting the communities as well.
“I explained the ways that the US can and does assist the Philippines in protecting communities against the danger from illegal drugs that flow into the country from overseas, including the support from our own DEA and other agencies,” he said.
For his part, Secretary Yasay told reporters in an interview that he and Russel emerged from their meeting “happy” having been “satisfied with what we did.”
However, he quickly explained that it is not the end of the issue.
“We will continue to engage ourselves in dialogue and discussions to make sure that we will know exactly where our relationship is, in what areas it will be strengthened and how we can move forward in so far as strengthening the relationship,” said Yasay.
He said he told the US side that the “separation” comment was intended “simply for the Philippines, for the Filipino mindset to separate themselves from that paradigm of dependency and subservience of our foreign interest and that it has nothing to do with breaking the country’s relationship with the US or breaking diplomatic ties.”
Strengthening US ties
“We continue to work toward the strengthening our ties with the United States,” said Yasay. “Even the President admits that very clear remarks when he arrived from his trip to China, that breaking up with the United States will not be in the best interest of the Philippines.”
According to Yasay, he informed Russel that the Philippines will continue to respect its alliance with the US.
“We will forge ahead in making sure that our relationship will proceed on a much stronger basis,” the Foreign Affairs chief said. “Our thrust, however, in carrying out our independent foreign policy is to make sure that we will not have this kind of dependency or subservience that has always been against the national interest.”
Meanwhile, outgoing United States Ambassador Philip Goldberg stressed that relations between the US and the Philippines remain “very strong” despite recent pronouncements of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte of a shift in its foreign policy.
Goldberg stressed at the formal turnover of the second C-130 T aircraft to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) yesterday.
Friendship unchanged
Goldberg said that although a lot of things has changed or has happened over the past few months, one thing has not changed and that is the strong friendship between the Philippines and the United States.
Goldberg stressed that the turn-over of the C-130 T aircraft symbolizes the two countries’ strong friendship.
“It is truly my pleasure to be here. It was just six months ago when the first C130 plane arrived in the Philippine. Many things have happened since then,” Goldberg said.
“Quite a bit has happened since then, quite a bit has changed since then but one thing hasn’t changed and that is the United States’ commitment to the Philippines and people of the Philippines remain as strong as ever,” he said.
Goldberg said the procurement or co-investment, the pooling of assets, money, and talent that’s what partnership is all about.
“This aircraft is a perfect example how and why our partnership works through procurement, investment, pooling of our assets, our money, and our talents. That’s what partnership is all about,” Goldberg said.
“We, for our part, hope to continue to build upon this kind of cooperation upon hard work together for many decades. And the success of our partnership that has realized in the past to face the upcoming challenges that will arise in the future.”
The post US Respects PH Sovereignty appeared first on Manila Bulletin.
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