CHINA was not the motivation behind the Philippines US second Bilateral Strategic Dialogue.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Philippines needs a credible defense posture that can address terrorism and help patrol the country’s coastline and the country’s territorial dispute with China over the Spratlys “is not our main motivation in such strategic talks with the United States.”

“Ang kagustuhan ng pamahalaan, iangat ang antas ng capability sa defense hindi dahil we are currently engaged in a dispute. With or without the dispute, walang sasalungat kapag sinabi nating medyo naiwanan tayo ng panahon sa defense capability," Valte said.

The Palace official said this defensive capability includes efforts against terrorism and patrolling the long Philippine coastline.

Valte said the Philippines badly needs to upgrade its ships patrolling the coastline.

“Our defense capability should include patrolling our seas. Our existing ships are in need of an upgrade,” she said.

Over the weekend, the Philippines and US issued a joint statement after the second Bilateral Strategic Dialogue on January 26 to 27 in Washington, D.C.

Both sides said the dialogue provided an opportunity to consult and exchange views on a broad range of bilateral, regional, and global issues, reflecting their common values and interests.

Co-chairing the dialogue were US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense Peter Lavoy for the United States and Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Erlinda Basilio and Undersecretary of National Defense Pio Lorenzo Batino for the Philippines.

Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III chaired the working group on Rule of Law and Law Enforcement.

“We committed to further enhance cooperation, including in security, defense, commerce, law enforcement, human rights, and disaster relief.  We agreed to deepen and broaden our maritime security cooperation.  We emphasized the importance of deepening bilateral trade and investment ties to increase prosperity for the people in both countries.

"We reviewed our ongoing collaboration in the Partnership for Growth and the Millennium Challenge Corporation.  We recognized the efforts being taken by the Philippine government in resolving human rights cases and discussed positive developments in the prosecution of abuses. We emphasized a mutual commitment to these efforts,” read a part of the statement.

They also said they look forward to continuing high-level consultation at a joint ministerial meeting between State Secretary Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, and Secretaries Albert del Rosario (foreign affairs) and Voltaire Gazmin (defense) this March.

Both sides also highlighted upcoming opportunities for further high-level engagement, including a visit by Assistant Secretary of State for Political and Military Affairs Andrew Shapiro to the Philippines in February and a visit by Deputy US Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis in late February “to discuss economic issues and the interest of the Philippines in potentially joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership.”