Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 2) — US President Joe Biden welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the White House on Tuesday (Manila time), where he told the chief executive that as both countries face challenges, he sees no better partner than Marcos.
“When we met in New York last year, you told me that a strong alliance has to continue, quote — I’m using your phrase — ‘to evolve as we face the challenges of this new century.’ And we are facing new challenges. And I can’t think of any better partner to have than you,” Biden said.
Biden added the relationship between the Philippines and the US \” has to continue to evolve.\”
The statement comes amid growing concerns about China’s aggressive behavior in the West Philippine Sea, where it has repeatedly harassed Philippine vessels, and the recent conclusion of the largest joint military drills of the two treaty allies.
China’s increasing military threats against self-governed Taiwan has also raised tensions between Washington and Beijing.
The US president said he and Marcos would discuss several issues, including climate change and workers’ rights among others.
\”And we’re going to announce that — we’re going to announce today that I’m sending a first-of-its-kind presidential trade and investment mission to the Philippines,\” Biden added.
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Biden also stressed the US \”remains ironclad\” in its commitment to protect the Philippines and will continue to support the country’s goals to modernize the military.
For his part, Marcos said it was natural for the Philippines to look to the US as tensions rise in the South China Sea and Taiwan.
\”There are also the issues, geopolitical issues, that have made the region where the Philippines is possibly, arguably the most complicated geopolitical situation in the world right now,\” he said.
In a joint statement, the two nations expressed support for the \” right and ability\” of Filipinos to sail and fish in the West Philippine Sea, noting the 2016 arbitral ruling that backed the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the contested waters, which China has rejected.
Biden and US first lady Jill Biden greeted Marcos and first lady Louise Araneta-Marcos as the five-day official visit to the US began.
