Remarks Aboard USS Fitzgerald Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty
Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Manila, Philippines
November 16, 2011
Thank you very much, and it is indeed an honor for me to be in Manila to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty and it is wonderful to be onboard the USS Fitzgerald,
a fine ship with a dedicated crew under the leadership of Commander
Mutty. If only we were underway. And I thank you greatly for hosting us
today.
I want to acknowledge Secretary Del Rosario, with whom I am working
very closely, Secretary Gazmin as well, and all those who are
representing the Government of the Philippines. But we also acknowledge
General Oban, Vice Admiral Pama, Admiral (inaudible), and Brigadier
Bautista, Lieutenant General Rabena, and Mayor Lim, the mayor of Manila.
On the United States side, we have a very distinguished delegation. I
think it’s fair to say that this combination of representatives from
the State Department and the Defense Department symbolizes the strength
not only of the past but even more importantly our future together.
It is a special honor also for me to meet anywhere with U.S.
servicemen and women, and I say thank you on behalf of all Americans.
You protect us faithfully and courageously, often from faraway cities or
remote corners of the ocean. And it’s been a great honor of my life to
be able to work with you to ensure that you’re given the support and
treatment you deserve from a grateful nation.
As each of us can attest, our mutual defense treaty has provided for
our common defense and helped to create cooperation between our
countries, not only military cooperation but also political and
economic, and not only between governments but most importantly between
our people.
That summer day in 1951 when this treaty was signed, our nations
faced a very different world. Then we were united against the spread of
communism. Filipino and American soldiers had fought side by side in
World War II not long before, and this treaty was a testament that we
stood united against the challenges of a dangerous world. Our hope was
that we could pursue the peace together. And that common devotion to
peace has sustained our alliance through the years.
Well, today we meet in a new era where we face new challenges but
also where we confront new opportunities. So we must ensure that this
alliance remains strong, capable of delivering results for the people of
the Philippines, the United States, and our neighbors throughout the
Asia Pacific. We are now updating our alliance and all of our alliances
in the region with three guidelines in mind. First, we are working to
ensure that the core objectives of our alliances have the political
support of our people. Second, we want our alliances to be nimble,
adaptive, flexible so they can continue to deliver results in this new
world. And third, we are making sure that our collective defense
capabilities and communications infrastructure are operationally and
materially capable of deterring provocation from the full spectrum of
state and non-state actors.
To that end, the United States is working with our Filipino allies to
ensure that we can meet threats like proliferation and terrorism, and
to support the Philippines particularly in the maritime domain as you
move to improve your territorial defense and interdiction capabilities.
In August, we transferred a Coast Guard cutter here, thanks to the
escort that you provided, and we are together considering transferring a
second one as well.
We are seeking to broaden and strengthen our partnership beyond
defense. The Manila Declaration that we have just signed sets forth a
shared vision for strategic, political, economic, and people-to-people
cooperation. And later today, Secretary Del Rosario and I will sign a
Statement of Principles for our Partnership for Growth to help the
Philippines break into the ranks of the world’s high-performing
economies. We are working together to increase trade and investment and
to strengthen regional institutions like ASEAN, APEC, and the East Asia
Summit. The United States-Philippines alliance has been a force for
regional security for decades, and through our direct cooperation we are
bringing that same spirit to regional forums as well.
As always, the foundation of what we do is really based on the ties
connecting our peoples. The United States is home to more than four
million Filipinos and Americans of Filipino descent, including several
members of the crew of this ship. All told, Filipinos represent the
second largest Asian American community in the United States, and we are
proud and grateful for the invaluable contributions they make to our
democracy, our economy, and our culture.
Looking back, there is much to celebrate, I agree, and we wish to
make sure that both of our people understand the benefits that this
relationship has brought, is bringing, and will provide for the future.
Now, consider this ship. The USS Fitzgerald has patrolled the
entire Western Pacific region this year. It traveled to Australia,
Russia, Guam, Saipan, the Marshall Islands, before docking here in
Manila Bay. As part of Operation Tomodachi, the search, rescue, and
recovery mission following the earthquake, the tsunami, and the nuclear
reactor meltdown in Japan, the Fitzgerald operated closest to shore. And this summer, it transited the Gregorio del Pilar the
flagship of the Filipino Navy on its maiden voyage across the Pacific.
The ships cross-decked and held training sessions for 16 days on
emergency response and onboard medical procedures. By the end of the
exercise, the officers and crews onboard both vessels achieved new
levels of proficiency and partnership.
That is just one example of the work we do every day together not
only between our militaries and our governments, our diplomatic corps,
but between our businesses, our universities, and our citizens. The
vital ties between the Philippines and the United States are strong and
growing stronger, and we must continue to invest in them to serve the
interests and answer the concerns of the Filipino and American people,
to maintain security and the conditions for progress, and to keep
following the fruitful pursuits of peace. The United States remains
committed to this goal, just as we are committed to our alliance. We are
grateful for 60 years of partnership and the progress we have made
together, and we look forward to many more years of working closely
together on behalf of our two nations, our people, and the world. Thank
you all very much. (Applause.)
