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Our security, with the new defense cooperation agreement that was signed today. i want to be very clear the united states is not trying to reclaim old bases or build new bases. at the invitation of the philippines american service members will rotate through filipino facilities. [ audio difficulty ] so we're prepared for a range of challenges including humanitarian disasters and natural disasters like yolanda. we'll work together with build the philippines' defense capabilities and work with other nations to promote regional stability such as in the south china sea. and i'm looking forward to ...

Pooends that the u.s. is genuinely committed to countering an increasingly assertive china in the region? will the u.s. protect the philippines in case a territorial dispute with china in the west philippines sea or the south china sea become an armed china. and how do you think china will react to the enhanced defense cooperation agreement? china has so far refused to participate in arbitration proceedings. and what are you going to do with this that is consistent with your position to have the territorial disputes resolved in arbitration? thank you. >> well, i've been consistent throughout m...

This in a diplomatic fashion. with respect to the new defense cooperation agreement that's been signed the goal here is wide-ranging. we've had decades of alliance with the philippines. but obviously, in the 21st century we have to continue to update that. and the goal for this agreement is to build philippine capacity to engage in training, to engage in coordination, not simply to deal with issues of maritime security but also to enhance our capabilities so that if there's a natural disaster that takes place we're able to potentially respond more quickly. if there are additional threats that ...

International rules and norms are respected. and that includes in the area of maritime disputes. we do not have claims in this area territorially where an asia pacific nation and our primary interest is the peaceful resolution of conflict, freedom of navigation, that allows for continued progress and prosperity. and we don't even take a specific position on the disputes between nations. but as a matter of international law and international norms we don't think that coercion and intimidation is the way to manage these disputes. and for that reason we're very supportive of president ninos appro...

International law that will help the asia pacific remain open and inclusive as the region grows and develops. today we have reaffirmed the importance of resolving territorial disputes in the region peacefully, without intimidation or coercion. and in that spirit i told him the united states supports his decision to pursue international arbitration concerning territorial disputes in the south -- [ audio difficulty ] we agreed to keep deepening our economic cooperation. i congratulated president aquino on the reforms he's pursued to make the philippines more competitive. through our partnership ...