WASHINGTON, 18 February, 2021 (TON): U.S. State Department said that Washington will continue to find ways to strengthen and advance security cooperation with the Philippines, its “oldest” ally in the region. 

“We value our alliance with the Philippines, which is the oldest in the Asia-Pacific region,” the State Department said.

Citing US-Chinese relations, during an address to Philippine troops after inspecting newly acquired air assets, President Rodrigo Duterte said that if the U.S. wants the VFA to be continued, it would have to pay.

“It’s a shared responsibility, but your share of responsibility does not come free. Because after all, when the war breaks out, we all pay,” Duterte said. “We are nearest to the garrison there, where there are a lot of arsenals of the Chinese armed forces.”

Senator Panfilo Lacson and Vice President Leni Robredo said that Duterte’s statement gave the impression that the Philippines were a “nation of extortionists.”

“Open dialogue between allies is essential to maintaining the strength of an alliance which is vital to both of our countries’ security,” the U.S. State Department’s letter said.

As we know that Duterte had unilaterally canceled the VFA last year in an angry response to an ally being denied a US visa, but retracted his decision a few months later. However, he faced widespread criticism for his latest remarks on the VFA and Filipinos considered it embarrassing.