LEAD: US, Philippines re-affirm defence partnership

Nov 16, 2011, 4:32 GMT

Manila - The United States and the Philippines on Wednesday signed a declaration confirming their defence cooperation, amid growing territorial tensions between Manila and China.

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and her counterpart Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario signed the declaration marking the 60th anniversary of a security treaty between the United States and its former colony aboard the US Navy warship USS Fitzgerald.

'We are determined to continue our bilateral cooperation in addressing broader regional and global challenges, including maritime security and threats to security,' the declaration said.

'We share a common interest in maintaining freedom of navigation,' the text said.

It called for 'a rules-based approach in resolving competing claims in maritime areas ... within the framework of international law.'

Clinton's 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 was expected to offer a second one in meetings with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and other officials, according to media reports quoting officials travelling with the secretary.

Not all Filipinos, however, welcome US support.

Hundreds of left-wing activists marched on the US Embassy for the second day on Wednesday to call for the scrapping of the mutual defence treaty.

Police blocked the demonstrators, who threw pig's blood on a road leading to the embassy in solidarity with victims of US-supported wars around the world.

They also complained that the defence cooperation with the US has not been beneficial to the Philippines.

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