13/08/2013
Amid continuing territorial dispute in the South China Sea the Philippines said it is pushing for peace in the Southeast Asian region, but will not hesitate to “tap every resource,” and “call on every alliance” to defend its territory.
“Our region would also need to know that we are steadfastly for peace; but that we stand ready to tap every resource, to call on every alliance, to do what is necessary in order to defend what is ours, to secure our nation and to keep our people safe,” Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) secretary Albert del Rosario said Monday.
Del Rosario, together with Department of National Defense (DND) secretary Voltaire Gazmin, announced in a press conference the official start of negotiations between the United States (US) and the Philippines on their increased rotational presence.
“Some time ago, we developed a policy and arrived at an understanding with the US, our treaty ally, on increased rotational presence,” he said.
The policy would be institutionalized once negotiations, which are set to being this week, are complete and a framework agreement has been signed by both countries.
Del Rosario said that the presence of US troops in the country would boost the maritime capabilities of the Philippines even without the need to acquire new military hardware.
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