Clinton to re-affirm US, Philippine defence partnership

Nov 16, 2011, 0:58 GMT

Manila - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is slated to hold talks Wednesday with Philippines officials on stepping up defence cooperation amid tensions with China over territorial disputes.

Clinton is scheduled to tour a US Navy warship docked in Manila to mark the 60th anniversary of a security treaty between the United States and its former colony.

She would also sign an agreement with the Philippines on the so-called Partnership for Growth, a US initiative that looks at ways to help emerging economies.

Clinton is scheduled to meet with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin to discuss new strategies of ensuring peace and stability in the region.

The visit comes at a time when the Philippines is calling for a united front in the region against China's alleged aggression in disputed territories in the South China Sea, a key shipping lane.

The US recently provided the Philippines with a warship and Clinton is expected to offer a second one, according to media reports quoting officials travelling with the secretary.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said Clinton's visit 'underlines the enduring alliance and responsive strategic partnership between the Philippines and the US.'

He added that the trip was 'the latest concrete manifestation of US action and re-engagement in the most dynamic region in the world - the Asia-Pacific.'

Not all Filipinos, however, are welcoming Clinton's message of increased cooperation and support.

Hundreds of left-wing activists marched towards the US Embassy on Tuesday when Clinton arrived in Manila to call for the scrapping of the mutual defence treaty between the two countries.

The demonstrators complained that the defence cooperation with the US has not been beneficial to the Philippines. They vowed to hound Clinton until she leaves for Thailand later Wednesday.

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