Philippines–United Kingdom relations

Philippines–United Kingdom relations are the bilateral relations between the Republic of the Philippines and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Formal diplomatic relations were established between the two countries on 4 July 1946. Relations between the two countries are cordial.[1]

Philippines–United Kingdom relations
Map indicating locations of Philippines and United Kingdom

Philippines
United Kingdom
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of the Philippines, LondonEmbassy of the United Kingdom, Manila
Envoy
Ambassador Teodoro Locsin Jr.Ambassador Laure Beaufils

Philippine pre-independence

Relations between the Philippines and the United Kingdom date to Sir Francis Drake's arrival in Mindanao in 1579 after an almost three-year circumnavigational voyage aboard Golden Hind. Economic ties defined relations for the next four centuries. The Philippines became a part of the footprint of the East India Company. British companies took part in improving transportation infrastructure in the Philippines.[1]

British occupation of Manila
See also: British occupation of Manila

The Kingdom of Great Britain occupied the city of Manila and the nearby port of Cavite between 1762 and 1764. Strong resistance from the provisional Spanish colonial government established by members of the Royal Audience of Manila and their Filipino allies prevented British forces from taking control of territory beyond the neighbouring towns of Manila and Cavite. The occupation was ended as part of the peace settlement of the Seven Years' War.

Modern era

On 16 September 1953, British Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Frank S. Gibbs called at Malacañang to President Quirino to give the message of the newly-crowned monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, thanking the President for sending a personal representative for her coronation. Queen Elizabeth also gave her best wishes for the continued progress of the country.[2]

President Bongbong Marcos meets with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace the day before the latter's coronation, 5 May 2023
Philippine Embassy in Central London.

Four members of the British Royal Family are known to have visited the Philippines. In 1980, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon visited the country.[3] In 1997, after the Hong Kong Handover, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, made an official visit and met with President Fidel V. Ramos at Malacañang Palace.[4] In 1999, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, visited the Philippines to visit the British School Manila in Parañaque. In 2001, Prince Andrew, Duke of York visited the Philippines to attend the inauguration of the British School Manila, upon its relocation from Parañaque to Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Prince Andrew, Duke of York revisited the British School Manila in 2004. On 19 March 2015, Princess Anne, Princess Royal visited the school in Taguig.[5]

The British Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee visited the Philippines in 1986 to express support for the new government of then-President Corazon Aquino. British Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe visited in 1988 in an attempt to further strengthen bilateral relations. The following year, Filipino Foreign Secretary Raul Manglapus became the first Philippine minister to visit Britain.[1] In 2016, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond visited the Philippines to mark the 70th anniversary of Philippines–United Kingdom diplomatic relations.[6] In 2023, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visited the Philippines to discuss enhancing the bilateral "enhanced partnership" in accordance with the Rishi Sunak administration's Integrated Review Refresh.[7][8]

Economic relations

The United Kingdom is currently the largest European investor in the Philippines. Likewise, most European tourists who visit the Philippines come from the United Kingdom, with about 90,000 visitors yearly.[1][9]

The UK government spends in the region of £2 million per year of funding to facilitate scientific collaboration with the Philippines. The fund, administered through the British Embassy Manila, is to foster science and innovation partnerships for joint research on development topics, training and fellowships, and innovation capacity-building programmes. These joint projects tackle priority development concerns such as environmental resilience, food, and energy security, and health.[10]

Former British Ambassador Asif Ahmad said: "Science and technology are key drivers to economic development. The Newton Fund will engage British and Filipino scientists as partners to increase their research and innovation capacity. The application of knowledge, tailored to the needs of the people of the Philippines, will address their current priorities and address long-term sustainable growth. The British invention of the internet transformed lives and it is not beyond reason to hope that Filipino-UK ingenuity could unlock further discovery."[10]

In 2020, as part of the UK Government's Future Cities Program, it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) to design the New Clark City Central Park and an affordable housing project in the new metropolis. Under the MOU, the UK and BCDA will work on three key areas for New Clark City: (1) Participative Design for New Clark City Central Park and citywide public space recommendations; (2) Housing Strategy and Livelihood Recommendations for Clark Special Economic and Freeport Zone and New Clark City; and (3) the Establishment of a Sustainability Unit for New Clark City.[11]

Military relations
See also: Filipinos in the United Kingdom

The Philippines sided with the Allies in the Second World War together with Great Britain. The United Kingdom plays an important part in the Mindanao peace process.

On 4 December 2017, the "Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation between the Philippines and the UK" was signed by the Philippine government and this opened up possibilities for exchange of training and cooperation between the forces of the two countries as well as the cyber security relations.[12]

Disaster relief operations

Typhoon Haiyan, known as Yolanda in the Philippines, was one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country's history and was one of the most powerful typhoons ever recorded.

The UK provided £77m of humanitarian aid, making it the largest single donor. In addition to the UK government's response, the British public donated a further £85m through the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal.[13]

CoVID-19 pandemic efforts

On 4 August 2021, the UK donated 415,040 Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses to the Philippine government as part of their vaccination drive.[14][15] On 25 November 2021, a total of 3,191,040 doses of UK-donated AstraZeneca vaccines arrived in the country, in partnership with the UNICEF and World Health Organization (WHO).[16]

Agreements

The Philippines and the United Kingdom have bilateral agreements that were signed and put into force or ratified:[17]

  • An agreement on air services between the PH and the UK (signed and entered into force on 31 January 1955).
  • An agreement on double taxation avoidance and prevention of fiscal evasion in relation to income taxes and income (signed on 10 June 1976 and entered into force on 23 January 1978).
  • An agreement for investment protection and promotion (signed on 3 December 1980, entered into force on 2 January 1981).
  • A memorandum of understanding for investment protection and promotion (signed and entered into force on 17 December 1985)
  • PH-UK Agreement on Certain Commercial Debts (signed and entered into force 4 February 1986)
  • Social Security Agreement (signed on 27 February 1985 and entered into force on 1 December 1989)
  • PH-UK Small Islands Electrification Grant 1990 (signed and entered into force on 10 December 1990)
  • PH-UK Manila Airport Security Equipment Grant 1994 (signed and entered into force on 31 January 1995)
  • Concessional Financing Agreements (signed and entered into force on 1 September 1995)
  • A memorandum of understanding on Women's and Children's Protection Course between the government of Britain and the Philippine National Police (signed and entered into force on 30 August 1997)
  • An agreement on recruitment (signed on 8 January 2002)
  • A memorandum of agreement on Advance Education/Training Program for Filipino Caregivers (signed and entered into force on 5 March 2005)
  • A memorandum of understanding on Healthcare Cooperation (signed 30 July 2003 and entered into force 6 January 2006)
  • Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (signed on 18 September 2009 and entered into force on 1 June 2012)
  • Extradition Treaty between the Philippines and the United Kingdom (signed 18 September 2009 and ratified on 14 April 2014)[18][19]
  • Philippines-UK Joint Plan of Action (signed and entered into force 13 November 2009)
  • A memorandum of understanding between the defense cooperation of the Philippines and the UK (signed 4 December 2017).[12]
  • Joint Economic Action Plan between the PH and the UK (signed on 22 March 2019).[20]

References
  1. "Bilateral relations". Embassy of the Philippines, London. Archived from the original on 17 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  2. Castro, Pacifico (1985). Diplomatic Agenda of Philippine Presidents: 1946-1985. Foreign Service Institute. p. 36.
  3. Heald, pp.225–226
  4. Cortes, Claro (3 July 1997). "Prince Charles, former Hong Kong governor arrive in Philippines". Associated Press. Manila. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  5. "History". British School Manila. Archived from the original on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  6. Calleja, Niña (7 January 2016). "British envoy in Manila to strengthen UK, PH partnership". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  7. Cleverly, James (28 August 2023). "Foreign Secretary visits Philippines to strengthen Enhanced Partnership". Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  8. Bajo, Anna Felicia (29 August 2023). "UK's Cleverly sees enhancing trade with Philippines". GMA News. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  9. "Philippines and UK's growing relationship | Manila Bulletin". Mb.com.ph. 24 May 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  10. "Science and Innovation fund launched in the Philippines". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  11. Alvarez, KR (21 September 2020). "UK gov't, BCDA partner on New Clark City Central Park, affordable housing project". Bases Conversion and Development Authority. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  12. Rocamora, Joyce Ann L. (12 February 2020). "PH, UK to hold joint defense meet in March". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  13. Tran, Mark (11 March 2014). "Typhoon Haiyan: UK response praised by aid watchdog". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  14. "Philippines receives over 415k doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from UK". GMA News. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  15. Tomacruz, Sofia (2 August 2021). "Philippines receives 415,040 AstraZeneca doses from UK". Rappler. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  16. Fernandez, Daniza (25 November 2021). "Over 3 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses arrive in PH". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  17. "Philippine-British Bilateral Relations". Embassy of the Philippines, London. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  18. Foreign and Commonwealth Office (3 March 2010). "Extradition treaty between the UK and the Philippines". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  19. Felongco, Gilbert P. (5 March 2014). "Philippines poised to ratify extradition treaties with UK, Spain, India". Gulf News. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  20. Cahiles-Magkilat, Bernie (23 March 2019). "PH, United Kingdom sign joint economic action plan". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 13 December 2021.

Bibliography
  • Heald, Tim (2007), Princess Margaret: A Life Unravelled, London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, ISBN 978-0-297-84820-2
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