Ahead of the 10th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which begins in New York on 1 August, the Philippines affirms its commitment to this treaty and its goals to advance peace, security and development.
The Philippines has engaged actively and consistently with NPT States Parties through the years to strengthen the anchors of this Treaty as a cornerstone of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation that recognizes the right of nations to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Our contributions include the robust national implementation of our obligations and the Philippine Presidency of the 8th Review Conference of the NPT in 2010.
Our commitment is rooted in the Constitution, in our laws and regulations and national aspirations for peace and development.
We recognize that international arms control and disarmament instruments like the NPT are fundamental to a rules-based international order that sustains the security of nations and the conditions for our peoples to thrive in peace.
The Review Conference is an opportunity to affirm that the Treaty is on a solid footing 50 years after its adoption, and the spirit of constructive multilateralism prevails among nations, notwithstanding geopolitical challenges and conflicts.
The preservation of Southeast Asia as a region free from nuclear weapons is of fundamental importance.
The humanitarian consequences of use of nuclear weapons are too unimaginable to consider. No nuclear weapons should ever be used and there is nothing that justifies their salience in the military and security doctrine of any nation.
The Philippines attaches great significance to the enduring role of the Treaty in the 21st century, to keep nuclear weapon states firmly on the path of completely eliminating their stockpiles as well as to address the modernization of nuclear arsenals, enhance transparency and establish security dialogue mechanisms among relevant regional actors.
The Philippines upholds our inalienable right to use nuclear energy and nuclear-related technologies for peaceful purposes and in pursuit of our environmentally-conscious climate-change-resilient sustainable development. The national framework for this is robust and is being further developed.
The Philippines will work closely with the NPT States Parties, in our national capacity, as well as through the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI), a cross-regional group of 12 States Parties, to contribute actively to making the 10th Review Conference productive and meaningful.