,,iii  #aai? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 ,,res4 #gfj  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!
 ,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,june #h1 #bjbf,mr4   
,ricketts 7= himself & ,mr4 ,coons7     
submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0     
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,=eign        
,relations  ,,resolution  ,recogniz+ !  
,unit$ ,/ates-,philipp9es alliance on ! 
#hj? anniv]s>y ( diplomatic relations1 !
 #ge? anniv]s>y ( ! ,mutual ,def5se     
,treaty betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ( ,am]ica
 & ! ,republic ( ! ,philipp9es1 & ! #aj?
 anniv]s>y ( ! l&m>k arbitral aw>d      
uphold+ ,manila's sov]eignty aga9/      
escalat+ aggression & lawf>e by ! ,p's  
,republic ( ,*9a 9 ! ,s\? ,*9a ,sea4    
,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ! ,philipp9es h
 ma9ta9$ diplomatic relations = #hj     
ye>s1 :i* 0 f\nd$ on ! basis ( deeply   
int]connect$ /rategic & economic int]e/s
 & close bonds betwe5 ! p ( bo?         
c\ntries2 ,:]eas !re are m ?an          
#d1jjj1jjj ,filip9o-,am]icans liv+ 9 !  
,unit$ ,/ates1 & approximately #cjj1jjj 
,unit$ ,/ates citiz5s p]man5tly resid+ 9

 ! ,philipp9es1 includ+ a significant   
population ( retir$ ,unit$ ,/ates       
milit>y vet]ans2 ,:]eas ! ,unit$        
,/ates-,philipp9es p>tn]%ip 0 =g$ 9     
blood1 :5 m ?an #bj1jjj ,am]icans &     
hundr$s ( ?\s&s ( ,filip9os 7 kill$ 9 ! 
,philipp9es campaigns dur+ ,_w ,w> ,,ii2
 ,:]eas1 foll[+ ! ,japanese invasion &  
occupation ( ! ,philipp9es betwe5 #aida 
& #aide1 ! =m] ,unit$ ,/ates commonweal?
 secur$ its (ficial indep5d5ce on ,july 
#d1 #aidf2 ,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates & !   
,philipp9es sign$ an ,agreem5t ,conc]n+ 
,milit>y ,bases 9 ,manila on ,m>* #ad1  
#aidg2 ,:]eas1 on ,augu/ #cj1 #aiea1 !  
,unit$ ,/ates & ! ,philipp9es sign$ !   
,mutual ,def5se ,treaty betwe5 ! ,unit$ 
,/ates ( ,am]ica & ! ,republic ( !      
,philipp9es 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is resolution 
z ! ,mutual ,def5se ,treaty71 :i* is !  
,unit$ ,/ates longe/-/&+ mutual def5se  
treaty 9 ! ,indo-,pacific region2 ,:]eas
 ! ,mutual ,def5se ,treaty cl>ifies !   
,unit$ ,/ates-,philipp9e collective     
int5t-- 7#a7 to resolve int]national    

disputes peacefully2  7#b7 to und]take  
sep>ate & jo9t developm5t ( ! capacity  
to resi/ attack2 &  7#c7 to consult )   
ea* ano!r :5ev] ! t]ritorial integrity1 
political indep5d5ce1 or security ( !   
,unit$ ,/ates or ! ,philipp9es is "u    
?reat ( ext]nal arm$ attack 9 !         
,pacific2 ,:]eas ! ,mutual ,def5se      
,treaty is ! f\ndation ( our security   
alliance & all o!r enabl+ def5se        
agreem5ts betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & !    
,philipp9es1 includ+ ! ,enhanc$ ,def5se 
,coop]ation ,agreem5t1 done at ,manila  
,april #bh1 #bjad2 ,:]eas ! ,enhanc$    
,def5se ,coop]ation ,agreem5t all[s = a 
/r5g!n$ ,unit$ ,/ates milit>y pres5ce 9 
! ,philipp9es-- 7#a7 to increase        
bilat]al coop]ation & int]op]ability2 & 
7#b7 to provide tra9+ to ! ,arm$ ,=ces (
 ! ,philipp9es1 ) increas$ rotation (   
,unit$ ,/ates milit>y p]sonnel &        
assi/ance devot$ to /r5g!n+ ! t]ritorial
 def5se & humanit>ian & m>itime         
op]ations ( ! ,philipp9es2 ,:]eas1 9    
,febru>y #bjbc1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & !     

,philipp9es committ$ to designat+ #d    
additional agre$ locations "u ! ,enhanc$
 ,def5se ,coop]ation ,agreem5t1 increas+
 ! total numb] ( su* locations f #e to  
#i2 ,:]eas ^! agre$ locations-- 7#a7 h  
/rategic value = ! ,unit$ ,/ates & !    
,philipp9es2  7#b7 increase confid5ce 9 
! bilat]al alliance2 &  7#c7 provide    
real opportunities = op]ational         
coop]ation to advance %>$ security      
priorities2 ,:]eas ! ,mutual ,def5se    
,treaty s]ves z a det]r5t aga9/ !       
increas+ t]ritorial aggression by ! ,p's
 ,republic ( ,*9a 9 ! ,s\? ,*9a ,sea2   
,:]eas1 9 #bjji1 ! ,p's ,republic ( ,*9a
 began unlawfully ext5d+ its t]ritorial 
& sov]eignty claims 9 ! ,s\? ,*9a ,sea  
"u its n9e-da% l9e con/ruct1 :i*        
violates ! t]ritorial rights &          
int]nationally recogniz$ exclusive      
economic zones ( ! ,philipp9es1 ,brunei1
 ,malaysia1 & ,vietnam2 ,:]eas1 9 ,june 
#bjab1 ! ,p's ,republic ( ,*9a seiz$ de 
facto control ( ,sc>bor\gh ,%oal2       
,:]eas1 s9ce #bjad1 ! ,p's ,republic (  

,*9a has sub/antially exp&$ its ability 
to monitor & project p[] ?r\gh\t ! ,s\? 
,*9a ,sea via ! con/ruction ( milit>iz$ 
artificial isl&s2 ,:]eas1 on ,septemb]  
#be1 #bjae1 ,presid5t ( ! ,p's ,republic
 ( ,*9a ,xi ,j9p+ /at$ dur+ a ,:ite     
,h\se press conf]5ce t ,*9a does n int5d
 to pursue milit>ization ( ! ,spratly   
,isl&s & ,*9a's outpo/s w\ld n t>get or 
impact any c\ntry2 ,:]eas1 on ,july #ab1
 #bjaf1 ! arbitral tribunal con/itut$ "u
 ,annex ,,vii to ! ,unit$ ,nations      
,conv5tion on ! ,law ( ! ,sea unanim\sly
 decid$ to invalidate ! ,p's ,republic (
 ,*9a's claim to ne>ly #ij p]c5t ( !    
,s\? ,*9a ,sea1 includ+ areas det]m9$ by
 ! tribunal to be "p ( ! ,philipp9es'   
exclusive economic zone & cont95tal     
%elf2 ,:]eas1 despite ! decision be+    
f9al & legally b9d+1 ! ,p's ,republic ( 
,*9a1 :i* refus$ to p>ticipate 9 !      
arbitration1 has cont9u$ to reject &    
fur!r violate ! decision2 ,:]eas ! ,p's 
,republic ( ,*9a has employ$ a v>iety ( 
ass]tive & aggressive tactics aga9/ !   

,philipp9es1 includ+ ?r\gh rese>*       
vessels1 /ate-subsidiz$ ,p's ,arm$ ,=ces
 ,m>itime ,militia sw>m+ fleets1 ! ,*9a 
,coa/ ,gu>d1 & ! ,p's ,lib]ation ,army  
,navy vessels1 to co]ce & en=ce its     
arbitr>y & unlawful t]ritorial claims 9 
! ,s\? ,*9a ,sea1 su* z by ramm+1 %ad[+1
 block+1 encircl+1 fir+ wat] cannons at1
 & us+ milit>y-grade las]s aga9/        
,philipp9e civilian %ips & milit>y      
vessels2 ,:]eas ! ,p's ,republic ( ,*9a 
has repeat$ly d5i$ ! ,philipp9es f      
lawfully deliv]+ humanit>ian supplies to
 memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces ( ! ,philipp9es 
/ation$ at ! ,,brp ,si]ra ,madre at     
,second ,?omas ,%oal2 ,:]eas1 9 ,april  
#bjbd1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 ,japan1 & !     
,philipp9es laun*$ ! ,luzon ,economic   
,corridor to catalyze mutual economic   
gr[?1 create jobs1 /r5g!n connectivity1 
& improve transport & logi/ics1 en]gy1 &
 digital infra/ructure along ! corridor 
connect+ ,subic ,bay1 ,cl>k1 ,manila1 & 
,batangas2 ,:]eas1 on ,june #ag1 #bjbd1 
coa/ gu>d sailors f ! ,p's ,republic (  

,*9a br&i%$ knives & o!r weapons 9 a    
cla% ) ,philipp9e naval vessels attempt+
 to resupply m>9es on ,second ,?omas    
,%oal1 result+ 9 a sev]e injury to a    
memb] ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces ( ! ,philipp9es2  
,:]eas1 9 ,m>* #bjbe1 ,secret>y (       
,def5se ,pete ,hegse?1 :ile visit+ !    
,philipp9es dur+ 8 fir/ trip to an      
,indo-,pacific p>tn]1 committ$-- 7#a7 to
 deploy additional advanc$ milit>y      
capabilities to ! ,philipp9es2  7#b7 to 
conduct bilat]al tra9+ betwe5 bo?       
nations = high-end op]ations2  7#c7 to  
prioritize bilat]al def5se indu/rial    
coop]ation2 &  7#d7 to laun* a bilat]al 
cyb] campaign2 ,:]eas1 9 ,april #bjbe1 !
 ,*9ese ,coa/ ,gu>d tempor>ily deploy$  
on ,s&y ,cay1 an unoccupi$ reef locat$  
#b miles f ,manila's l>ge/ outpo/ 9 !   
,s\? ,*9a ,sea1 & plac$ a ,*9ese flag1  
indicat+ an int5tion to annex1 exp&1 &  
possibly milit>ize ! feature2 ,:]eas1 9 
,may #bjbe1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & !         
,philipp9es conduct$ ,ex]cise ,balikatan
 #bjbe1 :i* includ$ p>ticipation by m   

?an #ad1jjj ,am]ican1 ,filip9o1         
,au/ralian1 & ,japanese s]vice memb]s & 
! fir/ deploym5t ( ! ,navy-,m>9e        
,exp$ition>y ,%ip ,int]diction ,sy/em   
7,,nmesis72 ,:]eas1 on ,augu/ #aa1      
#bjbe1 a ,*9a ,coa/ ,gu>d vessel collid$
 ) ano!r ,p's ,republic ( ,*9a vessel   
:ile aggressively sw>m+ a ,philipp9e    
,coa/ ,gu>d vessel t 0 conduct+ a       
humanit>ian mission )9 ! ,philipp9es'   
exclusive economic zone2 ,:]eas1 9      
,octob] #bjbe1 ,*9a ,coa/ ,gu>d vessels 
int]cept$ a ,philipp9e m>itime patrol   
boat ne> ,?itu ,isl&1 a major           
civilian-inhabit$ feature held by       
,manila2 ,:]eas1 9 ,decemb] #bjbe1 ,*9a 
,coa/ ,gu>d %ips fir$ wat] cannons at   
,filip9o fi%]m5 ne> ! disput$ ,sab9a    
,%oal1 injur+ #c p & caus+ significant  
damage to #b fi%+ vessels2 ,:]eas1 9    
,m>* #bjbf1 a ,p's ,lib]ation ,army     
,navy vessel lock$ fire control rad> on 
a ,philipp9e ,navy vessel conduct+ a    
sov]eignty patrol ne> ,sab9a ,%oal2     
,:]eas1 9 ,april #bjbf1 ! ,philipp9e    

,coa/ ,gu>d report$ t ,*9ese milit>y    
=ces fir$ tactical illum9ation fl>es    
directly into ! flight pa?s ( pass+     
,philipp9e m>itime surveillance         
aircraft1 :i* sev]ely ?reat5$ flight    
safety2 ,:]eas1 9 ,april #bjbf1 ,*9a    
deploy$ a massive #ceb-met] float+ b>ri]
 across ! m\? ( ,sc>bor\gh ,%oal's      
lagoon1 completely sev]+ access =       
,filip9o fi%]m52 ,:]eas1 9 ,april #bjbf1
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ! ,philipp9es ann\nc$
 plans to e/abli% a #d1jjj-;acre        
,economic ,security ,zone )9 ! ,luzon   
,economic ,corridor "u ! ,pax ,silica   
initiative2 ,:]eas1 9 ,may #bjbf1 !     
,luzon ,economic ,corridor /e]+         
committee =mally exp&$ to include #h    
additional global p>tn]s1 namely        
,au/ralia1 ,canada1 ,d5m>k1 ,france1    
,italy1 ,s\? ,korea1 ,sw$51 & ! ,unit$  
,k+dom1 position+ ! corridor z a        
multi-billion-doll> multilat]al         
alt]native to ! ,p's ,republic ( ,*9a's 
pr$atory infra/ructure deals2 ,:]eas1 9 
,may #bjbf1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & !         

,philipp9es ho/$ ! l>ge/ ,ex]cise       
,balikatan1 :i* includ$ notable         
developm5ts1 su* z-- 7#a7 p>ticipation (
 #ag1jjj troops1 includ+ troops f       
,japan1 ,au/ralia1 ,canada1 ,france1 &  
,new ,zeal&2  7#b7 ! deploym5t (        
,japanese combat troops on ,philipp9es  
soil2  7#c7 ! fir/ deploym5t ( ,japan's 
,type-#hh surface-to-%ip missile outside
 ( ,japan2 &  7#d7 ! real-"t %>+ (      
comm&-&-control data among allies to    
jo9tly def5d aga9/ m>itime aggression2  
,:]eas1 9 ,may #bjbf1 a ,unit$ ,/ates   
,coa/ ,gu>d vessel jo9$ ,philipp9e ,navy
 & ,coa/ ,gu>d vessels = a jo9t patrol  
sail+ betwe5 #ce & #dj nautical miles f 
! conte/$ ,sc>bor\gh ,%oal2 ,:]eas1 9   
,may #bjbf1 comm]cial satellite imag]y  
reveal$ t ! ,p's ,republic ( ,*9a plac$ 
a possible /ructure at ,sc>bor\gh ,%oal2
 ,:]eas ,july #d1 #bjbf m>ks ! #hj?     
anniv]s>y ( ! e/abli%m5t ( diplomatic   
relations betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & !    
,philipp9es2  ,:]eas ,july #ab1 #bjbf   
m>ks ! #aj? anniv]s>y ( an int]national 

arbitral tribunal's rul+ ov]:elm+ly 9   
favor ( ! ,philipp9es 9 its dispute ) ! 
,p's ,republic ( ,*9a reg>d+ ! ,s\? ,*9a
 ,sea2 &  ,:]eas ,augu/ #cj1 #bjbf m>ks 
! #ge? anniv]s>y ( ! sign+ ( ! ,mutual  
,def5se ,treaty betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates &
 ! ,philipp9es3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x  ,t !  
,s5ate-- 7#a7 celebrates ! #hj?         
anniv]s>y ( ! e/abli%m5t ( =mal         
diplomatic relations betwe5 ! ,unit$    
,/ates & ! ,philipp9es2  7#b7 celebrates
 ! #ge? anniv]s>y ( ! sign+ ( ! ,mutual 
,def5se ,treaty betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates (
 ,am]ica & ! ,philipp9es & ! long/&+    
alliance betwe5 our #b nations2  7#c7   
condemns ! ,p's ,republic ( ,*9a's      
refusal to accept ! #bjaf ,s\? ,*9a ,sea
 ,arbitral ,rul+ t rejects its illegal &
 expansive t]ritorial claims 9 ! ,s\?   
,*9a ,sea2  7#d7 appreciates ! tru/ ( ! 
,filip9o p 9 our bilat]al alliance & _! 
support = increas$ def5se coop]ation &  
,unit$ ,/ates milit>y pres5ce 9 !       
,philipp9es2  7#e7 supports ! ,unit$    
,/ates-,philipp9es alliance's exp&+     

/rategic focus on economic & supply *a9 
security ?r\gh ! ,luzon ,economic       
,corridor1 ,pax ,silica1 & o!r measures 
to /r5g!n our p>tn]%ip on critical      
m9]als1 advanc$ manufactur+1 em]g+      
te*nologies1 en]gy1 transport1 &        
logi/ics2  7#f7 ackn[l$ges ! det]m9ation
 ( ! p & ! ,arm$ ,=ces ( ! ,philipp9es  
to resi/ co]cion by ! ,p's ,republic (  
,*9a2  7#g7 condemns ! ,p's ,republic ( 
,*9a's unprovok$ aggression & political 
lawf>e 9 ! ,s\? ,*9a ,sea to en=ce its  
unlawful t]ritorial & sov]eignty claims2
  7#h7 rejects ! ,p's ,republic ( ,*9a's
 co]cive & de/abiliz+ plans to e/abli% a
 s-call$ national nature res]ve at      
,sc>bor\gh ,reef2  7#i7 reaffirms t     
,article ,,iv ( ! ,mutual ,def5se       
,treaty ext5ds to arm$ attacks on !     
,arm$ ,=ces1 public vessels1 or aircraft
 ( ! ,philipp9es1 includ+ ! ,philipp9e  
,coa/ ,gu>d1 any:]e 9 ! ,s\? ,*9a ,sea2 
7#aj7 consid]s aggression by ! ,p's     
,republic ( ,*9a 9 ! ,philipp9es'       
int]nationally recogniz$ exclusive      

economic zone to be a direct assault on 
its sov]eignty & t]ritorial integrity2  
7#aa7 urges ! ,presid5t to cont9ue to   
take appropriate & necess>y actions 9   
response to escalatory behavior ( ! ,p's
 ,republic ( ,*9a 9 ord] to re/ore      
det]r5ce & to help ! ,philipp9es def5d  
itself2  7#ab7 supports ! unwav]+       
commitm5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to deep5+   
security coop]ation ) ! ,philipp9es1    
includ+ advanc+ ,philipp9e def5se       
mod]nization & enhanc+ int]op]ability   
?r\gh milit>y ex]cises1 tra9+1 jo9t     
patrols1 & increas$ in=mation %>+2      
7#ac7 supports o!r nations gr[+ _!      
political & security p>tn]%ips ) !      
,philipp9es2  7#ad7 commits to advance  
coop]ation among ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 !     
,philipp9es1 ,japan1 ,au/ralia1 ,s\?    
,korea1 & o!r p>tn]s2 &  7#ae7 reaffirms
 ! commitm5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to ! "r  
to fre$om ( navigation & ov]flight1     
respect+ m>itime rights "u int]national 
law1 & ensur+ a free & op5              
,indo-,pacific4