{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ricketts-coons-resolution-celebrates-the-74thanniversary-of-our-mutual-defense-treaty-with-the-philippines/", "Ricketts, Coons Resolution Celebrates the 74th Anniversary of Our Mutual Defense Treaty with the\u00a0Philippines", "2025-09-18", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "NE", "Pete Ricketts", "R000618", "www.ricketts.senate.gov", "ricketts", "https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list&pagenum=", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Chris Coons (D-DE), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, The Pacific, & International Cybersecurity Policy, announced a resolution celebrating the 74th anniversary of the signing of the mutual defense treaty (MDT) between the United States and Philippines. The resolution reaffirms the United States\u2019 commitment to the defense of the Philippines under the MDT.\n\n\u201cI have seen firsthand Communist China\u2019s illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions against the Philippines,\u201d said SenatorRicketts. \u201cLast month, a China Coast Guard vessel recklessly collided with a PLAN destroyer. Last week, Communist China made a sham declaration of a \u2018national nature reserve\u2019 at Scarborough Reef. These are just two recent examples of Communist China\u2019s malign behavior. It\u2019s clear Communist China knows no limits to imposing its illegitimate, territorial claims. This resolution is a reminder to all that the United States will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Filipino allies. We will continue to honor the mutual security commitments that have anchored our alliance for 74 years.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor nearly three-quarters of a century, the Philippines has been a steadfast ally and one of our staunchest partners in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific, \u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cWhen Senator Ricketts and I traveled there earlier this year, we saw not only China\u2019s growing aggression, but also a nation excited to strengthen our partnership. The Philippines has a million new workers a year ready to help us create the kind of defenses, manufacturing, and resilient supply chains that will make both our countries stronger. It has never been more urgent that we support each other and expand our security and economic relationship.\u201d\n\nThe resolution:\n\nCelebrates the 74th anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines and the longstanding alliance between our two nations;\n\nAppreciates the trust of the Philippine people in the bilateral alliance, and their support for increased defense cooperation and U.S. military presence in the Philippines;\n\nAcknowledges the determination of the Philippine people and their armed forces to resist PRC coercion;\n\nCondemns the PRC\u2019s unprovoked aggression and political lawfare in the South China Sea to enforce its unlawful territorial and sovereignty claims;\n\nRejects the People\u2019s Republic of China\u2019s coercive and destabilizing plans to establish a so-called \u201cnational nature reserve\u201d at Scarborough Reef;\n\nReaffirms that Article IV of the Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on the Armed Forces, public vessels, or aircraft of the Philippines, including the Philippine Coast Guard, anywhere in the South China Sea;\n\nConsiders PRC aggression in the Philippines\u2019 internationally-recognized exclusive economic zone to be a direct assault on its sovereignty and territorial integrity;\n\nUrges the President to continue to take appropriate and necessary actions in response to escalatory PRC behavior to restore deterrence and help the Philippines defend itself;\n\nSupports the unwavering commitment of the United States to deepening security cooperation with the Philippines, including advancing its defense modernization and enhancing interoperability through military exercises, training, joint patrols, and increased information sharing;\n\nSupports other nations growing their political and security partnerships with the Philippines;\n\nCommits to advance cooperation among the United States, the Philippines, Japan, and Australia;\n\nReaffirms the U.S. commitment to the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, respecting maritime rights under international law, and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.\n\nCo-sponsors of the resolution include U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Rick Scott (R-FL), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ted Budd (R-NC), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Michael Bennet (D-CO).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ricketts-coons-resolution-celebrates-the-74thanniversary-of-our-mutual-defense-treaty-with-the-philippines/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.517515094950795, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}