US bipartisan delegation assures PH of support regardless of the outcome of US elections

The Capitol Hill in Washington, DC (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

A bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers visited the Philippines on Tuesday and promised Washington’s consistent support for the country’s military enhancements, regardless of the outcome of the U.S. presidential election this November.

Senators Jose Manchin and Lisa Murkowski and Representatives Wiley Nickel and Greg Pence arrived in Manila on Monday night and did an overflight observation in the West Philippine Sea.

According to Murkowski, China’s increasing hostile activities in the South China Sea are also a deep concern for the US Congress, which is why they’re confident there will not be a policy change should there be a change in administration.

“My hope is that we continue to build on this relationship and it is enduring in the sense that it goes beyond political terms, whether in the United States or here in the Philippines as we both have elections that are approaching,” Murkowski said in a press conference.

“The commitment, the resolve needs to be enduring and I think part of what you’re seeing of the congressional delegation is that administrations will come and go, presidents will come and go but the Congress is very keenly focused on this relationship with the Philippines,” she added.

(L-R) United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. join hands during a photo opportunity before the start of 4th Philippines-US Two-Plus-Two Ministerial Consultations’ at the Tejeros Hall in Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City on July 30, 2024. Ryan Leagogo/INQUIRER.net

$500 million military financial aid

Murkowski said that the $500 million financial aid for military development will continue to be disbursed to Philippine defense agencies as previously promised last July
To demonstrate that the US’s position on the maritime conflict with China is translated into policy.

Pence said that the issue of China is something the Republican and Democratic parties agree on.

“We’ve stood up a China task force, in both parties there’s no disagreement at all in this area in which you are the key. There’s not gonna be any waivering in that and the people of the Philippines,” Pence said.

The US embassy in Manila also stated that it is focused on the “rapid delivery” of these financial aids to the government in order to expedite military enhancements.