Mindanaotoday.com | Rufus: US VP’s visit ‘clear signal’ of support to PH
By: Jigger Jerusalem
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – With the visit of United State Vice Pres. Kamala Harris to the country Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, of the city’s 2nd district, is positive that this gesture will further bolster the Philippines’ long-standing alliance with America.
Harris’ visit, Rodriguez said, “sends a clear signal to China that the US is supporting the Philippines in its territorial dispute with Beijing.”
Unlike in the previous administration, the lawmaker believes that under the leadership of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the country is definitely taking a stronger stance over China, specifically on the Asian superpower’s incursion into the South China Sea – called the West Philippines Sea (WPS) during the presidency of the late Benigno Aquino III.
“This is not a case of rattling China but a showing that the Phil. has strong support from the international community on our sovereign rights in the WPS based on international maritime law,” Rodriguez said, adding that, “the visit will certainly be some sort of deterrent against the unlawful incursions of China in the WPS.”
The legislator said he welcomes Harris’ visit as he expressed gratitude to the US for supporting the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the WPS under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in accordance with the International Arbitral Award in July 2016.
He said before Harris arrived in Manila, a US official told the press that the visit would show the Biden administration’s “commitment to stand with our Philippine ally in upholding the rules-based international maritime order in the South China Sea, supporting maritime livelihoods and countering illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.”
That is consistent with the aspiration of President Marcos to push for a code of conduct in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, which China should respect and abide by, he added.
Harris is the highest-ranking US official to visit the Philippines. She is scheduled to travel to Palawan to meet with residents and local officials.
Before her, State Secretary Anthony Blinken was in Manila in August.
Blinken said the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between the US and the Philippines would kick in if a Philippine vessel or plane was attacked in the South China Sea.
“An armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels and aircraft will invoke the US mutual defense commitments under that treaty. The Philippines is an irreplaceable friend, partner and ally to the United States,” he said. (MT)
####