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MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte has extended the suspension of the cancellation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) for another six months, his top diplomat said Wednesday.
In a statement via Twitter, the Secretary of Foreign Relations, Teodoro Locsin Jr., said: “My president, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, has instructed me to transmit with due formality his decision to extend the suspension of the repeal of the Forces Agreement Visitors for another six months, to allow us to find a more improved, mutually beneficial, mutually acceptable, more effective and lasting agreement on how to advance our mutual defense. “
SFA @eddyboylocsin Statement on the VFA extension. Read the full statement here: https://t.co/LrlibBiGtX@philippinesusa pic.twitter.com/Dg7EjzbmXJ
– DFA Philippines (@DFAPHL) November 11, 2020
“Long live the friendship and alliance between the Philippines and the United States. I hereby send the Diplomatic Note in this regard, ”he also said.
On January 23, Duterte gave the US government 30 days to rectify the visa cancellation of his political ally, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa or suspend the two-decade-long military agreement.
The Philippines officially withdrew from the defense agreement on February 11.
But on June 1, Locsin, by order of the president, suspended the revocation of the VFA for six months due to the coronavirus pandemic and “rising tensions between the superpowers.”
That order to suspend Duterte was “extendable by the Philippines for another six months.”
“The past four years have changed the South China Sea from one of uncertainty about the intentions of the great powers to one of predictability and resulting stability regarding what can and cannot be done, what will and will not be acceptable. with respect to the conduct of any protagonist in the South China Sea. Clarity and strength have never been a risk. It is confusion and indecision that compound the risk, ”Locsin continued.
“Much of the credit for the renewal of stability and security is due to the skillful diplomacy, the unequivocal expressions of politics, the firm stances of force combined with unerring tact, and the pragmatic national security councils displayed by our two governments in the same period, “he added.
KGA
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