Tinatarget ngayon ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos na magsagawa ng joint maritime activities sa West Philippine Sea sa huling bahagi ng taong ito kasama ang iba pang mga kaalyadong bansa nito.
Sa isang joint press conference ng mga top defense at diplomatic officials ng dalawang bansa ay ibinahagi ni US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III na kabilang ito sa kanilang mga natalakay sa kanilang idinaos na 2+2 ministerial talks na dinaluhan nina National Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, at US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sa Washington.
Aniya, kabilang sa mga naging pangakong kasunduan ng dalawang bansa ay magreresulta ng mas matibay na bilateral relations sa iba pang mga kaalyado nitong bansa tulad ng Japan at Australia bilang bahagi ng mas pagpapalakas pa nito sa pagpapakita ng puwersa laban sa mga posibleng banta at hadlang na mararanasan sa indo-pacific region.
“The commitments that we made today will further integrate our strong bilateral ties into multilateral networks, including with Japan and Australia, and we discussed plans to conduct combined maritime activities with likeminded partners in the South China Sea later this year as we work to enhance our collective deterrence.” ani US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III.
“Our alliance is ultimately guided by our deep and enduring commitment to freedom. So we’re not just allies, we’re democratic allies, and the United States and the Philippines are bound by a common vision for the future – a vision that’s anchored in the rule of law and freedom of the seas and respect for the territorial integrity of sovereign states.”
Ayon naman kay National Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., napagkasunduan ng Pilipinas at Amerika na palawakin pa ang kanilang mga areas of cooperation at palalimin pa ang relasyon ng dalawang bansa pagdating sa iba’t ibang larangan nang dahil sa pangangailangan magtulungan para sa mas pagpapaigting pa ng interoperability, defense capacity, at iba laban sa mga hamong parehong kinakaharap at kakaharapin pa ng mga ito.
“Our defense establishments recognize the need to work together to enhance our interoperability, increase our defense capacity, and build our resilience against emerging challenges. To this end, we agreed to explore new areas of cooperation and deepen our existing partnership in key areas such as mutual defense, maritime security, and information/intelligence sharing, and joint sails and solidarity patrols.” saad ni National Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.
“We discussed opportunities for future cooperation with likeminded partners in the region. We recognize that we cannot address such a wide range of security challenges and that we need to work with other countries who share our interest in accordance with our respective national laws and policies.”
Sa kabila ng mga naging pahayag na ito ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos ay nagbabala naman ang China na hindi dapat tumarget ng anumang 3rd party country ang isasagawang exchange and cooperation activities ng dalawang bansa.
Ayon kay Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin, ang naturang mga aktibidad ay dapat na layuning makatulong sa pagpapatupad ng kapayapaan at katatagan sa rehiyon.
Giit niya, hindi dapat pakialaman ng military cooperation ng Pilipinas at Amerika ang mga hindi pagkakaunawaan sa West Philippine Sea at hindi rin aniya dapat makapinsala ito sa mga maritime interests, and rights, security interests, gayundin sa territorial sovereignty ng China.
