Foreign relations of the Philippines

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The foreign relations of the Philippines is tightly controlled with its relations with its Southeast Asian neighbors and the United States.

[edit] Foreign policy

The fundamental Filipino attachment to democracy and human rights is reflected in its foreign policy and is also a staunch and a close ally of the United States. On October 18, 2003 President George W. Bush became the second President of the US (Dwight D. Eisenhower was first) to speak in the Philippine Congress. He praised the Philippines for being a bastion of democracy in the east and for being America's oldest ally in Asia. In the past years the Philippines has also began to establish closer ties to its other former colonizer, Spain. The King and Queen of Spain attended the Centennial celebration of Philippine Independence from Spain on June 12, 1998 in recognition of a shared colonial past and similarities in culture.

Philippine soldiers and police have participated in a number of multilateral civilian police and peacekeeping operations such as in Iraq where the Philippines sent appro 100 or so doctors, soldiers, nurses and police in the area, until they were recalled to the Philippines in order to ensure the safe return of a Philippine hostage. Philippine Army General Jaime de los Santos served as the first commander of the UN Peacekeeping Operation in East Timor. The Philippine Government also has been active in efforts to reduce tensions among rival claimants to the territories and waters of the resource-rich South China Sea.

[edit] Relations with specific countries and regions

[edit] East Timor

Relations began as soon as that country was multilaterally recognized as an independent state. The Philippines was involved in the UN security mission there. The two countries are now engaged in growing trade and commerce, as well as cultural and educational exchanges. This can also be attributed to the fact that both countries are Catholic majority.

[edit] Pakistan

Relations with Pakistan have become quite rosy when Pakistan's head of state, Pervez Musharraf visited the Philippines in April 18, 2005. The visit was to boost trade, commerce, and industry between the two countries.

[edit] South Korea

The Philippines fought together with South Korea during the Korean War. South Korea is also one of the largest trading partners of the Philippines.

[edit] Israel

On November 29, 1947, the Philippines was the only Asian nation to support the partition resolution at the United Nations creating a Jewish State in Palestine. Israel and the Philippines established full diplomatic relationships in 1957. Embassies were opened both in Tel-Aviv and Manila in 1962. The two countries have enjoyed warm relations in all spheres. In 1997, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) institutionalizing the bilateral political dialogue between the respective foreign ministries. The political dialogue runs parallel to the rich cooperation in trade and economy, culture, technical assistance, science, academic exchanges, tourism etc.

There are approximately 60,000 Filipino workers, in Israel.^[1]

[edit] Spain

As the lone Spanish colony in Asia for almost three and a half centuries, the Philippines is the Spaniards' closest ally in the Far East, primarily due to a shared culture and religion. Philippine President Gloria Arroyo concluded her second state visit in Spain in July 2006, bringing along millions of dollars of Spanish investments, particularly in Tourism and Information Technology. The Spanish king, Juan Carlos, also reiterated in Mrs. Arroyo's visit, his desire for the Philippines to re-establish Spanish as an official language in the country. He and his wife, Queen Sofia attended the 1998 centennial celebrations in Manila, commemorating 100 years of independence from Spain

The Philippines also receives the bulk of Spanish economic assistance addressed to Asia.

[edit] United States of America

The United States is one of the closest economic and political allies of the Philippines. Primarily, the two countries are partners in counterterrorism, as they both share intelligence. Also, the two countries conduct military exercises in Mindanao, and are both heavily involved in trade and commerce.

In recognition of its efforts in the War on Terrorism, in October 2003 U.S. President George W. Bush designated the Philippines as a major non-NATO ally.

Historically, the Philippines was a former American colony and later American Commonwealth in the first half of the 20th Century. The United States granted the Philippines independence (the first country in the world to achieve independence after the Second World War) on July 4, 1946, America's 170th anniversary of independence. Both countries signed a Mutual Defense Treaty in 1951. The United States then formed the South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) along with the Philippines and six other countries (Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Thailand, France and the United Kingdom) in order to defend Southeast Asia, South Asia and Southwest Pacific from Communist aggression.

The Philippines fought for and later with the United States in the First World War (1914-1918), the Second World War (1939-1945), the Korean War (1950-1955), the Vietnam War (1960's-70's) and recently in the Global War on Terrorism (2001-present) and 2003 Iraq War.

The United States continued its military assistance to the country and sent military specialists to train Filipino soldiers about counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism.

[edit] China

The Philippines and China established diplomatic relations on June 9, 1975 with the signing of the Joint Communiqué by leaders of the two countries. Since then bilateral relations between the two countries have developed steadily despite some difficulties. Both countries have maintained high level contacts and exchanges.

Several major bilateral agreements were signed between the two countries over the years, such as: Joint Trade Agreement (1975); Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement (1978); Postal Agreement (1978); Air Services Agreement (1979); Cultural Agreement (1979); Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (1992); Agreement on Agricultural Cooperation (1999); Tax Agreement (1999); and Treaty on Mutual Judicial Assistance on Criminal Matters (2000). In May 2000, on the eve of the 25th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, the two countries signed a Joint Statement defining the framework of bilateral relations in the 21st century.

Bilateral relations between the Philippines and China have significantly progressed in recent years. The growing bilateral relations were highlighted by the state visit to China of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 29-31 October 2001. During the visit, President Arroyo held bilateral talks with top Chinese leaders, namely President Jiang Zemin, NPC Chairman Li Peng, and Premier Zhu Rongji. President Arroyo also attended the 9th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting held in Shanghai on October 20-21, 2001, where she also had bilateral talks with President Jiang.

According to President Arroyo, her state visit to China has raised the level of Philippines-China relationship to a more mature and enduring level. She said that the visit has brought the Philippines closer to the emerging economic center of gravity of Asia and the world. During President Arroyo's visit, eight important bilateral agreements were signed, namely:

Treaty on Extradition Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Combating Transnational Crime Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation Against Illicit Traffic and Abuse of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursor Chemicals Exchange of Notes on the Establishment of the Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai Financial Protocol Between the Department of Finance and the China National Construction and Agricultural Machinery Import and Export Corporation Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippine Sports Commission and the State General Administration of Sports of China on Sports Cooperation Cooperation Agreement between the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Memorandum of Understanding between the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. and the All-China Federation of Industry

[edit] Participation in International Organizations

• Asian Development Bank
• Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
• Association of Southeast Asian Nations
  • WTO
  • East Asia Summit (EAS)
• Latin Union
• United Nations
• UN Security Council-elected member
• Non-Aligned Movement
• Colombo Plan
• World Bank
• Interpol
• FAO
• WHO
• ILO
• SEATO (defunct)
• UNESCO
• Group of 24
• G-77
• G-20

[edit] Issues

[edit] International disputes

[edit] Sabah

See also: Sabah dispute

Sabah, the largest region which the Philippines claim, is now an integral part of Malaysia. On January 23, 1878, Sulu Sultan Jamalul Alam leased his territory in Borneo, in which is now Sabah, to Austrian Gustavus von Overbeck. The Sultan was paid 5,000 Ringgit every year for the lease. In 1920, despite calls made by Washington to London regarding Sabah, the latter was still made a crown colony of the United Kingdom. On September 16, 1963, the United Kingdom formally ceded Sabah to Malaysia. Philippine Presidents Diosdado Macapagal and Ferdinand Marcos openly claimed Sabah. The latter even ordered Sabah to be put into the Philippine map. Despite challenges of the Philippine government to bring the matter of the dispute to the ICJ, or International Court of Justice, Malaysia still rejects those calls. During 2003, violent mass deportations of illegal Filipinos residing in Sabah resulted in more clamor for the Sabah claim. Up to this day, Malaysia still pays the annual rent of 5,000 Malaysian Ringgit to the Sultan's heirs.

[edit] Sulawesi Sea Islands

The case of Sipadan and Ligitan, which were in dispute between Malaysia and Indonesia, was taken into the ICJ, in which the former won. Sipadan and Ligitan are technically part of Sabah state, and thus would be part of the claim of the Sulu Sultanate's heir, the Philippines.

[edit] Spratly Islands

The Spratly Islands are a group of islands, reefs, and rocks located about 300 kilometers left of Aborlan, Palawan. The Philippines, along with the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Brunei expressed claims. The Philippines officially staked a claim to some of the islands during the United Nations convention, although it was first expressed in 1956, when Tomas Cloma, a Philippine mariner, officially declared some of the eastern Spratlys as a protectorate of the Philippines. Based on proximity and on the United Nations Archipelagic Doctrine, the Philippines can claim some of the Spratlys as an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Whether these argument (or any other used by the Philippines) would hold up in court is debatable but possibly moot, as the PRC and Vietnam seem unwilling to legally substantiate their claims and have rejected Philippine challenges to take the dispute to the World Maritime Tribunal in Hamburg.

[edit] Scarborough Shoals

The Scarborough Shoals, located approximately 200 kilometers west of Palauig town of Zambales province of the Philippines, are claimed by both the Philippines and PRC.

• During the Spanish Colonial Era, the Philippines' area includes several nearby territories such as Northern Marianas Islands, Guam, Palau, Caroline Islands, and parts of Micronesia. All of these areas were separated by the United States from the Philippines during the former's occupation of the latter. The Philippines also has jurisdiction over the Spanish possessions in Taiwan, Borneo, Halmahera, Pulau Ternate, and Pulau Tidore.

[edit] Illicit drugs

The country, an archipelago, serves as breeding ground for locally produced marijuana and hashish and is possible that it is illegally shipped to East Asia, the United States, and other Western markets; serves as a transit point for heroin and crystal methamphetamine.

[edit] See also

• Territories claimed by the Philippines
• Philippine diplomatic missions
• List of diplomatic missions in the Philippines

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Embassy of the United States in Manila
• Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines
• Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations