PBBM, BIDEN pinalawak ang security, environment protection, trade ties; pinagtibay ang commitment sa international law

Sa isang joint statement, kapuwa pinuri nina Pangulong Marcos at Biden ang  “remarkable ties of friendship, community, and shared sacrifice that serve as the foundation of the U.S.-Philippines alliance.”

“In efforts to promote inclusive and broad-based prosperity, invest in the clean energy transition and the fight against climate change, uphold international peace and stability, and ensure respect for human rights and the rule of law, the United States and the Philippines will remain the closest of allies, working together to deliver a better future for our citizens and tackle the emerging challenges of the twenty-first century,” ang nakasaad sa joint statement.

Sa kabilang dako, kapuwa naman winelcome nina Pangulong Marcos at Biden ang  identification o pagkakakilanlan sa  mga bagong  sites sa ilalim ng  US-Philippines Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Sa joint statement, kapuwa sinabi ng dalawang lider na “this will strengthen Philippine security and support the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization goals, while driving US investment to local communities across the Philippines and improving our shared ability to rapidly deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.”

Kapuwa binigyang diin ng dalawang lider ang kanilang  “unwavering commitment” sa freedom of navigation at overflight sa South China Sea, at maging ang kahalagahan ng paggalang sa sovereign rights ng estado sa loob ng exclusive economic zones (EEZ) nito alinsunod sa  international law.

“The leaders support the right and ability of Filipino fisherfolk to pursue their traditional livelihoods. The leaders note the ruling of the 2016 arbitral tribunal, constituted pursuant to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” ayon sa kalatas.

Pinagtibay din ng mga ito ang kahalagahan na panatilihin ang kapayapaan at katatagan sa kabilang panig ngTaiwan Strait, kung saan  inilarawan ito bilang  “indispensable element of global security and prosperity.”

Kapuwa naman ipinaabot nina  Biden at Pangulong Marcos ang kanilang suporta para sa  Ukraine sa laban nito sa  Russia para sa sobereniya, independence, at territorial integrity sa loob ng  “internationally recognized borders, “noting that the conflict (with Russia) has adversely affected food and energy security in the Indo-Pacific.”

Sa kabilang dako, kapuwa naman nilutas nina Pangulong Marcos at Biden ang “expand cooperation on environmental protections,  kabilang na ang pinalakas na domain awareness, marine conservation, at pagprotekta sa  coastal areas mula sa  environmental degradation.

Kapuwa naman nangako sina Pangulong Marcos at Biden  na “to promote increased cooperation and knowledge sharing between the United States and the Philippines through the Science and Technology Agreement (STA). They also  welcomed US plans to establish an Open-RAN Interoperability Lab in Manila.”

Pareho namang binigyang diin nina Pangulong Marcos at Biden ang pangangailangan  na palakasin ang “democratic institutions, rule of law, at paggalang sa human rights, kabilang na ang freedom of expression, press, at association.”

Binigyang diin din ng dalawang lider ang pangangailangan na kontrahin o tutulan ang anumang uri ng karahasan gaya ng laban sa  sambayanan, kababaihan, kabataan at  marginalized groups.

Samantala, winelcome naman ng mga lider ang paglikha sa  bilateral Labor Working Group bilang bahagi ng  US-Philippines TIFA, nakikitang makapagbibigay ng mahalagang oportunidad para sa Estados Unidos  at Pilipinas  para “work together on implementation of internationally recognized labor rights,” at pabilisin ang pagpapalitan at dayalogo sa hanay ng  US at Philippine governments at labor unions, at maging ang  employer organizations.