On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the surrender of Japanese forces at the end of World War II, United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim paid tribute on Wednesday to the shared sacrifices made by Filipino and American veterans who laid down the foundation that led directly to the establishment of a formal alliance between the two countries.
In his remarks during the virtual commemoration at the American Residence in Baguio City, Kim said such alliance, deep friendship and long-standing partnership are still on display today while the world is battling challenges created by the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.
“Today, we find ourselves facing an entirely new and unprecedented set of challenges to our people, our economies, and our nations. In the global battle against COVID-19, our long-standing partnership is enabling the strong US-Philippines cooperation on display today. Together, we are tackling the public health, economic, and education challenges created by the virus. And as we reflect on our shared history, I am deeply grateful to those who came before us to lay the unshakeable foundation for our deep friendship and partnership,” he said.
With soldiers from both countries serving in the battlefield in 1945 to the present collaboration of scientists and public health experts, Kim said the US-Philippines relationship continues to evolve to this day to meet whatever challenges come its way.
“Time and time again, history has demonstrated that the United States, Philippines, and Japan are strongest when we work together as friends, partners, and allies,” he added.
On September 2, 1945, General Tomoyuki Yamashita signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender in the presence of US Lieutenant-Generals Arthur Percival and Jonathan Wainwright at the American Residence in Baguio City, a ceremony that brought “one of the darkest and saddest periods in history to an end.”
The American envoy noted that the signing of the Instrument also marked an opportunity to rebuild and reunite in a post-war era, coupled with the indomitable spirit of Americans, Filipinos, and others around the globe that enabled an unprecedented era of development and collaboration.
“To that end, the shared sacrifice of Americans and Filipinos in World War II led directly to our formal alliance, established in 1948, which has grown into a lasting partnership that goes well beyond mutual defense,” he said.