Manila: The Department of National Defense (DND) on Friday joins the rest of the 11-member bloc Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in the region.
According to Philippines News Agency, the TAC has been pivotal in establishing peaceful interstate relations, based on mutual respect and dialogue, and has served as ASEAN's core peace and security pact. The DND emphasized its commitment to these principles and to strengthening peace, stability, and cooperation, particularly through the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus.
The Philippines, as this year's ASEAN chair, has designated July 24 as "TAC Day." The treaty was originally signed on February 24, 1976, during the first ASEAN Summit in Bali, Indonesia.
In related developments, the Philippine Navy (PN) announced that its guided-missile frigate, BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-6), participated in the "Rim of the Pacific" (RIMPAC) photo exercise on July 22 in Hawaiian waters. This exercise, led by the Commander Destroyer Squadron 23 aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), involved 28 ships and five submarines from various countries demonstrating maritime unity and tactical coordination.
RIMPAC is a biennial maritime exercise led by the US Indo-Pacific Command, which commenced on June 24 and will conclude on July 31.
