Chairman McCaul Returns from the Philippines and Australia with Bipartisan Delegation

Washington, D.C. – Last week, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) led a bipartisan congressional delegation to the Philippines and Australia. He traveled to the Philippines alongside Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia Chairman Joe Wilson (R-SC). In Australia, they were joined by Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific Chairwoman Young Kim (R-CA) and Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA). While in the Philippines and Australia, the delegation met with senior government and business leaders to discuss ongoing security challenges in the region posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and examine new pathways for U.S. engagement in the Indo-Pacific. While the delegation was in Australia, new defense trade exemptions to the United Kingdom and Australia were announced related to the trilateral AUKUS security partnership, further demonstrating America’s commitment to projecting strength in the Indo-Pacific and deterring CCP aggression.

“My colleagues and I were extremely proud to meet with leaders from the Philippines and Australia during our visit to these countries,” said the lawmakers. “As the CCP grows increasingly aggressive in the Indo-Pacific, we traveled to the region to reaffirm U.S. support to our friends and allies in the region and provide deterrence against communist China. When America recedes as a global leader, our adversaries — like China, Russia, and Iran — grow emboldened. The message we sent on this trip was clear: the United States must pursue peace through strength and deter the malign intentions of our rivals. As we continue to strengthen our alliances with the Philippines and Australia, America remains committed to upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific.” 

Philippine President Bongbong Marcos hosted Chairman McCaul and Rep. Joe Wilson at the Presidential Palace, where the lawmakers also met with Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Theresa Lazaro and National Security Advisor Eduardo Año. They discussed the importance of maintaining the U.S.-Philippines alliance, deterring CCP aggression, and strengthening our economic partnership. 

The members met with the U.S.-Philippines Congressional Friendship Caucus and spoke with the Speaker of the Philippines’ Congress, Martin Romualdez, and other Philippine legislators. They discussed the importance of strengthening the partnership between the U.S. and the Philippines to counter the CCP in the Indo-Pacific.

Chairman McCaul and Rep. Wilson met with Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros to discuss increasing U.S. private investment in the Philippines’ electric grid and alternative energy sources. They also spoke about President Marcos’ decision to ban offshore gaming operators, primarily from the CCP, and the impact that it has had on the Philippine people and economy. 

The members had the opportunity to meet with the Philippine Coast Guard and Commandant Gavan to discuss the CCP’s military outposts in the South China Sea and their aggressive tactics to harass Philippine fishermen. This aggressive behavior prevents the Philippine people from conducting lawful operations and destabilizes regional peace.

The Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro met with Chairman McCaul and Rep. Wilson to discuss strengthening the U.S. and Philippine military alliance and U.S. support for the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Coast Guard amidst CCP aggression. 

To conclude their trip to the Philippines, the members visited the Manila American Cemetary, the final resting place of 16,859 American servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice during operations in New Guinea and the Philippines.

The members met with Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles to receive an update on the trilateral AUKUS partnership, which is critical to maintaining peace in the Indo-Pacific.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong hosted the bipartisan delegation to discuss the importance of U.S. presence in the Indo-Pacific, including focusing attention on the Pacific Island countries that are facing increasing CCP encroachment.

Next on their visit, they met with Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives Milton Dick and other members of the Australian Parliament to discuss strengthening our military and economic alliance. 

The bipartisan delegation met with the Australian Director-General of National Intelligence Andrew Shearer to discuss the national security threats facing our nations and the tools we have to combat the shared threats.

The members had the opportunity to participate in the Last Post ceremony at the Australian War Memorial to honor those who fought for freedom and democracy around the world. 

The delegation met with U.S. General Consul in Australia, Christine Elder, who welcomed the bipartisan delegation to Sydney, where she briefed the Members of Congress during a working lunch on American companies’ engagement in Australia and the trliateral AUKUS security partnership.

On their visit, the delegation spoke with executives from Anduril Industries to receive updates on defense technology that counters the CCP.

The bipartisan delegation had a lively discussion with many American companies operating in Australia at a reception hosted by AmCham Australia.