Like-minded countries fully support the Philippines

Clearly, the recent passage of a US Congress House Resolution serves as a strong statement reinforcing the longstanding friendship, mutual commitment to security and economic partnership between the Philippines and the United States.

- AMBASSADOR B. ROMUALDEZ

House Resolution 837 was co-sponsored by our friends from both sides of the aisle—Democratic Congressman Bobby Scott of Virginia and Republican Congressman James Moylan of Guam who are both co-chairs of the US-Philippines Friendship Caucus—and it reaffirms the United States' "unwavering commitment" to invoke the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty if there is an armed attack in the South China Sea against Philippine assets, including those of the Philippine Coast Guard.

The bipartisan resolution also calls on the Philippines and the US to "begin joint patrols in the South China Sea" and also expressed firm objection to China's "false sovereignty claims." The resolution further stated that it welcomes the swift implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and "foster a free and open Indo-Pacific for all."

"As the only currently serving member of Congress with Filipino ancestry, and as co-chair of the US-Philippines Friendship Caucus, I am proud to see our bipartisan resolution passed by the House," Congressman Scott said, stressing that the resolution reaffirms the important partnership between the two nations and makes it clear that the US "will stand firmly" with its allies in the Indo-Pacific region.

Through the passage of the resolution, the US House of Representatives has "sent a clear message to our friends in the Philippines: we will protect you," said Congressman Moylan, who called out China for continuing to "harass citizens of the Philippines through various means, including pressurized water cannons, ship ramming and maritime militias."