Philippines’ Marcos to forge stronger relationship with U.S. during visit

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday’s meeting with President Joe Biden was essential to advancing his country’s national interests and strengthening the “very important alliance” between Manila and Washington. said.

Before leaving for a four-day official visit to Washington on Sunday, Marcos is determined to forge “stronger ties” with the United States to “address the concerns of our time,” including issues related to Biden. said to tell. economic.

“During this visit, we reaffirmed our commitment to promoting our long-standing alliance as an instrument of peace and as a catalyst for development in the Asia-Pacific region, and therefore for the rest of the world. ‘ said Marcos. The late strongman who helped Washington defect to Hawaii during the 1986 “People Power” uprising.

Marcos’ official visit to Washington is the first official visit by a Philippine president in over a decade and the latest in a series of high-level meetings the Philippines has held with US and Chinese leaders. region.

A senior Biden administration official told Reuters that Biden and Marcos are expected to reach an agreement on greater business engagement and “strengthening the military” amid shared concerns about China.

A senior U.S. government official said it was impossible to underestimate the strategic importance of the Philippines, but the relationship was more than just security.

The official said U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimond will lead a presidential business delegation to the Philippines as part of a move to strengthen trade ties.

Marcos had sought good ties with both China and the United States, but Manila is increasingly concerned about “provocative” diplomacy by Beijing and calls for stronger ties with its allies, he said. Said.

“We are not provocative and aim to provide moral and practical support as the Philippines seeks to pave its way in the complex Western Pacific. “Their geographic location is important.” he added.

Washington sees the Philippines as a potential site for rocket, missile and artillery systems to counter an amphibious invasion of Taiwan, which China claims is its territory, experts say.

Marcos’ visit to Washington came on Friday after the Philippines accused the Chinese coast guard of “dangerous operations” and “aggressive tactics” in the South China Sea. The maritime confrontation between the two countries has erupted despite Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang’s visit to Manila this weekend.

Faced with such pressure from China, the Philippines and the United States are rapidly ramping up their defense efforts, including large-scale military exercises and the recent expansion of US access to Philippine bases. China opposes the base agreement.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said earlier this month that it was “too early” to discuss assets the U.S. wants to be stationed at bases in the Philippines.

This is a sensitive issue for Manila, not only because of its main trading partner China, but because of its past domestic opposition to the presence of US troops.

The two sides agreed to finalize a roadmap in the coming months for providing U.S. defense assistance to countries in Southeast Asia over the next five to 10 years.

Alluding to a difficult period in bilateral relations under Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, officials said Monday’s summit would bring “alliance management habits” back to the levels of the 1970s and 1980s. He said it would be part of the effort.

Officials said the United States plans to step up trilateral dialogue with Japan and the Philippines, and Marcos will discuss joint maritime patrols at the Pentagon.

“We intend and are intensifying broader regional security consultations with the Philippines on all issues in the South China Sea and beyond,” said Manila’s dispute with China and other countries. Referring to China’s maritime claims, the official said.

Separately, he said no final decision had been made on whether Mr Biden would stop staying in Papua New Guinea next month as part of his enhanced ties with the Pacific islands region, but Washington said, “We “We are having a lively discussion, whatever the direct highs are.” level interaction with the Pacific Ocean. “