US-Philippines relations: Marcos Jnr weaves new diplomacy that could unravel tapestry of romance with China

Pictures of the two presidents’ first meeting in New York on September 22 said it all: Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and Joe Biden sat side by side, laughing like old friends.

This was a sign, observers said, of a new pattern of diplomacy being stitched together by the new Philippine president - one that could unravel his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte’s tapestry of romance with China.

Biden during the meeting said the relationship between the United States and the Philippines “has very deep roots”, with the US president adding “it’s a critical, critical relationship from our perspective” and that he hoped “we can do a lot together”.

For Ian Storey, a Southeast Asian security specialist, the Philippine president’s week-long visit to the US ahead of China, capped by his meeting with Biden and a speech before the United Nations General Assembly stressing a rules-based approach to maritime conflict, “is sending a crystal clear signal that he believes the Philippines’ single most important relationship is with the US”.