US-Philippines cooperation helps 'faster' response to China, says Marcos By Reuters
Written by Simon Lewis and Karen Lema
MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr told US cabinet secretaries Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin on Tuesday that regular dialogue between Manila and Washington is needed to ensure “swift” responses to his country's maritime disputes with China.
The US agreement, the Philippines, has been separated several times at sea with China, the US's biggest rival in the Indo-Pacific, this past year, but the two sides have now reached an “interim arrangement” to reduce tensions and manage tensions.
Marcos greeted Secretary of State Blinken and Defense Secretary Austin at the Malacanang Palace on Tuesday morning ahead of meetings with his Filipino counterparts, the first such meetings hosted by the Philippines.
“I am always very happy that these lines of communication are very open so that all the things that we do together, in terms of our alliance, in the specific context of our situation here, in the West Philippine Sea and in the west. The Indo-Pacific, is continuously evaluated and re-evaluated so we are quick in terms of our responses ,” said Marcos.
The Philippines has competing claims with China in the western waters also known as the South China Sea. China claims that 90% of the ocean is sovereign territory.
Marcos noted that he was “surprised” to see the two secretaries given how “interesting” the US political situation is, referring to President Joe Biden this month ending his re-election campaign and allowing Vice President Kamala Harris to take over. former President Donald Trump in the November election. Blinken gave Marcos greetings from Harris, and Biden.
Blinken, the top American official, said that “the continuous drumbeat of high-level negotiations in our countries covers the full range of problems and opportunities that include not only security, but also economics.”
