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With eye on China, Biden tells Marcos that US commitment to Philippines is ‘ironclad’
- The US will transfer three C-130 aircraft and two coastal patrol ships to the Philippines. Economic, climate and other initiatives also unveiled
- The Oval Office meeting comes as concerns grow about Beijing’s increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the South China Sea
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President Joe Biden reiterated US commitment to the Philippines’ security and noted the “deep friendship” of the two nations as he welcomed Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr for White House talks on Monday, as concerns grow about the Chinese navy’s harassment of Philippine vessels in the South China Sea.
Marcos Jnr’s visit to Washington comes after the US and the Philippines last week completed their largest war drills ever and as the two countries’ air forces on Monday will hold their first joint fighter aircraft training in the Philippines since 1990.
The Philippines this year agreed to give the US access to four more bases on the islands as the US looks to deter Beijing’s increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea.
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Meanwhile, China has angered the Philippines by repeatedly harassing its navy and coastguard patrols and chasing away fishermen in waters that are close to Philippine shores but that Beijing claims as its own.
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US, Philippine troops fire air-defence missiles as part of annual joint exercises
US, Philippine troops fire air-defence missiles as part of annual joint exercises
But as Biden sat down with Marcos Jnr, the US president went out of his way to note the progress in the US-Philippine relationship – one that has had ups and downs over the years and was in a difficult place when Marcos Jnr took office less than a year ago.
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