Why what we do matters

Dear friends,

Today I am writing to you from the beautiful province of Leyte, where I am attending the 79th Anniversary of the landings to liberate the Philippines in the Second World War.

We are honoring the Filipino, Australian and US forces who fought and died here, but also remembering the terrible cost of the war on all sides, especially its devastating impact on civilians.

Many of you will be aware of the significant contribution Australia made during the liberation of the Philippines. Thousands of Australian service personnel served here in 1944 and 1945 to help bring peace and a significant number paid the ultimate sacrifice. At Leyte, Surigao and Lingayen, Royal Australian Navy ships, including our heavy cruisers and destroyers, were at the center of much of the fierce action.

The spirit of friendship and sacrifice which our two nations first demonstrated in Leyte has continued between us ever since. Filipino and Australian Defence personnel have taken part in peacekeeping missions around the world, in joint exercises and in training and educational exchanges.

Just this August, we conducted our largest ever bilateral defence exercise, Exercise Alon, which I witnessed firsthand alongside President Marcos, Secretary Teodoro and Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles.

Just as important as our military engagements has been our longstanding humanitarian cooperation. Australian Defense personnel have played a significant part in major disaster response missions in the Philippines, especially during Super Typhoon Yolanda which occurred here in Leyte almost ten years ago.

Our embassy also works with a range of civilian agencies on disaster relief and preparedness, with the aim of reducing vulnerability to, and the impact of, natural disasters which are increasing in intensity as a result of climate change.

While what we do together is important, it is just as important to take a moment to reflect on why.

As Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, remarked when he was in Manila last month, Australia regards the presence of an open, stable and prosperous region as being absolutely critical.

We have a collective responsibility for security, deterring aggression and promoting a region where countries – regardless of their size or might – can exercise their agency and defend their sovereignty in accordance with international rules and norms, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

So we do our part – alongside our friends in the Philippines – to ensure that the type of region we want to live in is not just reflected in words, but also made a reality.

Seventy-nine years ago, here in Leyte, those who were here lived through the horrors of what happens when conflict prevails over peace. Most of them are no longer with us, but there are still some alive today, and many family members on all sides who recall the devastation of that war.

In the time that has since passed, we have seen many positive changes. Australia, the Philippines and the US now stand side-by-side with Japan in steadfast resolution to ensure peace and stability endure in the Indo-Pacific and to do all we can to avoid the tragedy of war befalling us all. Because we know that peace is not something we can afford to take for granted.

Of course, the pursuit of peace goes far beyond just the defence sphere. Promoting economic security and sustainable development, combating climate change and enhancing education are all critical to regional stability. This is why Australia is focused on all of these areas as part of our regional engagement and we will continue to partner with the Philippines on addressing them under our new Strategic Partnership.

Some final thoughts from Leyte. For those of you, including my fellow Australians, who have never visited here – I would encourage you to do so. Of course, the province is rich in natural beauty, history and culture. But visiting here, especially when reading the names of the fallen at the Australian War Memorial in Palo, also provides a poignant reminder to all of us of why peace matters and why we must work so hard together to protect it.

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HK Yu, PSM, is the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines. You can follow Ambassador Yu on Twitter: @AusAmbPH.