USA-Philippines trade & investments partnership launched for deeper relationship

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is visiting the Philippines on Tuesday to initiate the Obama administration’s Partnership for Growth (PFG) program for devising measures to facilitate trade and investments in conflict, poverty and graft stricken countries such as Tanzania, El Salvador and Ghana.

Clinton’s one-day visit will also highlight the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Philippine-US Mutual Defense Treaty and pave the way for new strategies to ensure peace and stability in the region particularly in the disputed areas of the West Philippine Sea where Chinese military intrusions have been increasing of late.

The PFG launching comes amid the Philippines’ efforts to strengthen measures to implement economic reforms and improve trade policies, in order to qualify for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement that facilitates trade and investments between the US and four members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Brunei.

With the PFG program, the US government seeks to coordinate programs across multiple agencies in order to improve development outcomes and provide a more transparent mechanism to facilitate business investment.

'Enduring alliance'

Clinton’s Philippine counterpart, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, will hold a bilateral meeting with her on Tuesday. He said her visit comes as a part of the administration of President Barack Obama’s thrust “to reaffirm and broaden alliances and partnerships in the Asia-Pacific."

“Her visit underlines the enduring alliance and responsive strategic partnership between the Philippines and US, and is the latest concrete manifestation of US action and reengagement in the most dynamic region in the world – the Asia-Pacific," del Rosario said.

“The strategic partnership between the two countries also focuses on seizing opportunities for their mutual objective of growing their economies which is manifested in their cooperation under the Partnership for Growth (PFG)," he added.

Del Rosario noted that the Obama administration’s PFG is a new initiative that could unlock the Philippine potential for broad-based and sustained economic growth.

The Foreign Affairs secretary pointed out that out of only four countries chosen by the US to participate in this new type of engagement for development, “the Philippines was chosen due to its solid track record in economic performance, democratic governance, investment in its people and success on other US government investments."

Clinton is also meeting with Philippines Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin to discuss how the nations can bring their alliance to a higher level in 2012.

Obama hoping for "deeper relationship" with the Philippines

United States President Barack Obama expressed hope that the newly-signed security accord between Manila and Washington would "be an opportunity...to further deepen the relationship" of the two countries.

The relationship between the Philippines and the world's largest economy could be expanded to include maritime security, disaster, and humanitarian relief, Obama said on Friday during the 19th meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Bali, Indonesia.

"Obviously, the bilateral relationship between the United States and the Philippines is one that goes back for decades. This is an opportunity for us to discuss how we can further deepen that relationship," he said.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a ten-member organization, which counts the Philippines as one of its members. Others are Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Brunei Darussalam.

Obama also expressed appreciation for meeting Philippine President Benigno Aquino III for the second time. The first time the two leaders met was during the Asean-US Leaders' Meeting in New York last year.

"He has been an astounding partner in a full range of multilateral issues. I want to commend President Aquino for his leadership, for his reform efforts. And I think that a relationship that's already very strong can only become stronger as a consequence of our continued interaction," Obama said in his welcome remarks.

He added that both countries have benefited from each other, especially as they have an "incredible person-to-person relations" as reflected by the large number of Filipinos in the United States and vice versa.

"Obviously, the contribution of Filipino Americans to the growth and prosperity of the United States has been incredibly important. And I think that the Philippines obviously has benefited from their interaction with Americans on a wide range of issues," the US President said.

For his part, Mr. Aquino recognized the opportunity to further enhance the country's relationship with the US.

"It’s true, we have one of the longest-running relationships, a strong base of shared values and history. And we look forward, in these turbulent times of ours, to really further strengthen our relationship," he said.

Continue reading

China funded arroyo to deteriorate Aquino’s Plan in Bali – strengthening Philippines Spratlys

China plot Leaks! China funded Arroyo and the Supreme Court of the Philippines to deteriorate the President Aquino's plan meeting with the ASEAN leaders in Bali, Indonesia to discuss the disputed in the Spratlys.

The Plan A, B & C of China to win over the Spratlys is already formulated prior Aquino precede to office on June 2010.

The last visit of the high Chinese official to the Philippines is to reenact and revitalized their plan and shifting the old plan giving a full support to Arroyo to deteriorate Aquinos' government. Mrs Arroyo is a very close friend of China during her more than 9 year term and even one of the signatories of the Spratlys' 3 country controversy that also involves Viet Nam which hurts other claimants like Malaysia Brunei and Indonesia.

China funded arroyo and bribed the Supreme Court of the Philippines to deteriorate the Aquino's Plan in Bali, Indonesia in meeting with leaders to support the Spratlys peaceful claim.

China won over Aquino's plan as Aquino loss the loop of the opening of the ASEAN meeting and failed to meet leaders.

Today, Friday November 18, 2011 is the other day of showdown with the  aggression of Mrs. Arroyo's plan to exasperate the President Aquino in Bali and focus in the Philippines issue instead of solving the South China Sea (West Philippines Sea) disputes with the ASEAN leaders.

According to the information leaked to us from an insider and our reliable source who have access in China's plot for Spratlys that links arroyo and other powerful officials of the Philippines; China start rejoicing as the Aquino' Plan failed in meeting important people in Bali and they will do all efforts to divert the mind of the President from focusing the issues about Spratlys in Bali into the recent issue with Arroyo in the country.

Aquino must focus

Justice Secretary De Lima is empowered by the President Aquino to do all legal means to stop Arroyo from leaving the country and to face the charges against her for high level graft and corruption and Election sabotage in 2004 election.

According to a political analyst; Aquino is elected by the People of the Philippines and must exercise his full power granted by the people to protect the country and his people against the attack of neighboring countries with ambition to invade the territory of the Philippines, using the former president of the Philippines as an instrument for the China's success in claiming the whole Spratlys and Palawan Islands. He also added that China will not stop their plan and the government must expect many surprises in every special event.

President Aquino must focus in meeting with important people in Indonesia and leave the issue to De Lima and to the arm forces of the Philippines if needed.

The Arroyo's case is an extra high profile case as the worlds' emerging world super power china is in her back to destabilize the Aquino's Administration.

Continue reading

US Reaffirms Military Ties with the Philippines – Boost bases in Australia

MANILA — during a high-profile visit to the Philippines on Wednesday (November 16, 2011), Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton stood on the deck of a American warship in Manila Bay and reaffirmed the strong military relationship between the United States and the Philippines.

Steaming hot day in Manila, Clinton signed a declaration marking sixty years since the US signed a security treaty with the Philippines in a highly symbolic ceremony aboard the Fitzgerald, a US Navy vessel that has operated in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea).

"We must ensure that this alliance remains strong, capable of delivering results for the people of the Philippines and the United States and our neighbors throughout the Pacific," Clinton said.

Clinton underlined the US military and diplomatic support for the Philippines amid rising tensions between the Philippines and China over resource-rich South China Sea.

The statement called for a "rules-based approach in resolving competing claims in maritime areas".

"The United States does not take any position on any territorial claim because any nation ... has a right to assert it. But they do not have a right to pursue it through intimidation or coercion," Clinton said, not directly mentioning China.

The visit comes at a time of heightening tensions in the South China Sea related to the oil-rich Spratly Islands, which are the subject of disputed claims by China, the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations. By some estimates, the energy reserves in the areas being disputed by the various countries could rival those of Kuwait.

"We are making sure that our collective defense capabilities and communications infrastructure are operationally and materially capable of deterring provocations from the full spectrum of state and nonstate actors," Mrs. Clinton said aboard the guided missile cruiser U.S.S. Fitzgerald.

Mrs. Clinton's visit also coincides with a trip to the region by President Obama. On Wednesday, Mr. Obama arrived in the Australian capital of Canberra and announced with Prime Minister Julia Gillard an agreement that allows for an increased military presence in that country. Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton will then attend the East Asian Summit in Indonesia.

In Australia, US President Barack Obama announced an agreement Wednesday to expand the US military presence in Australia; meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vowed military support for the Philippines, indicating US concerns over an increasingly aggressive China.

The US-Australia agreement, announced during a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, will position more US equipment and increase military personnel in Australia.

"With my visit to the region I am making it clear that the United States is stepping up its commitment to the entire Asia-Pacific region," Obama said.

Deployment of an initial company of 200-250 Marines would begin next year and expand to up to 2,500 eventually, Gillard said.

The move may be seen by Beijing as further evidence of Washington's attempt to encircle China, with US bases in Japan and Korea and now in Australia.

Obama also plans to raise maritime security in the South China Sea at the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Bali this week, defying China's desire to keep this sensitive topic off the agenda.

While in the Philippines, Mrs. Clinton also signed a pact promoting economic growth and attended a lively public forum in which she took questions from the public. But her appearance on the deck of the warship — a highly symbolic event — had greater impact for the militarily weak Philippines as it tangles with a huge neighbor to the north over the Spratly Islands.

"Filipinos appreciate symbolism," said Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Manila-based Institute for Political and Economic Reform. "She did not say anything unusual, but they saw her on a warship in Manila Bay. They received the message."

Mrs. Clinton, whose visit was marked by relatively modest anti-American protests at the American Embassy in Manila, reiterated Washington's position that territorial disputes in the South China Sea should be settled peacefully. In another gesture not lost on her local audience, she referred to the disputed area by its locally coined name: the West Philippine Sea.

"We are strongly of the opinion that disputes that exist primarily in the West Philippine Sea between the Philippines and China should be resolved peacefully," she said during a televised news conference with Philippine secretary for foreign affairs, Albert del Rosario. "Any nation with a claim has a right to exert it, but they do not have a right to pursue it through intimidation or coercion."

Following its independence in 1946, the Philippines signed agreements that allowed American military bases to operate in the country. Large American Air Force and Navy bases were closed in the early 1990s after contentious debate in the Philippine Senate, but the 1952 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty -  upon which the military relationship is based - has remained intact.

After the Sept. 11 attacks, American military involvement in the Philippines focused on Islamic extremist groups operating in the southern part of the country. In recent years, broader defense coordination has taken place, including American assistance for the outdated naval forces of the Philippines.

The United States currently has no military bases in the Philippines, though visits by American Navy ships and joint drills are common. In October, the United States and the Philippines conducted war games on the island of Palawan, 50 miles from the disputed area with China.

Mr. Casiple, the analyst, noted that the Philippine government has been careful to balance these military gestures with the recognition that the country needs to maintain close and cordial economic ties with China.

"The Philippines does not want to be the representative of the U.S. military in Southeast Asia," he said. "I think the Philippine government wants to maintain its friendship with both these great powers and not become a ball in the middle being kicked by both sides."

The US military presence is sensitive in the Philippines due to the colonial legacy, and a small number of left-wing activists protested Clinton's visit, accusing the US of using the former colony for its own profits.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III has voiced support for expanding military cooperation with the US.

The Philippines has sought to rally Southeast Asian nations to stand firm with China over the maritime dispute, but Beijing has insisted that it only opens to bilateral negotiations.

Clinton will later visit Thailand ― another US ally in Southeast Asia ― in a show of support for Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra as she faces the devastating months-long floods.

Aside from the South China Sea dispute, the US has accused China of undervaluing its currency and undercutting its intellectual property.

Continue reading