Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 3) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he is as “concerned as you could possibly be” about China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea, a part of the South China Sea that Manila and Beijing claim.
Marcos was on his way to have brunch with United States Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff in Washington D.C. when a reporter asked him how concerned he was about China’s “continued provocation in the South China Sea.”
“As concerned as you could possibly be,” he said. “It is one of the major issues that we have to face back home.”
When asked if he believes his cooperation with Harris and US President Joe Biden will bring him “closer to protecting the region,” Marcos said the partnership with the US is “just something we have been building upon that has been going on for many, many, many decades.”
Beijing’s aggressive tactics against Manila continued in disputed waters last week after the Philippine Coast Guard confirmed reports of a near-collision between a large Chinese Coast Guard ship and a Philippine patrol vessel at the Ayungin Shoal.
READ: PCG reports near-collision due to Chinese ship’s ‘dangerous’ maneuvers in Ayungin Shoal
On Tuesday evening (morning in Washington D.C.), Harris welcomed Marcos and his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos to her official residence at the Number One Observatory Circle in the US Naval Observatory.
LOOK: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos meet Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff in Washington, D.C.
📸 PCO pic.twitter.com/u9nRdnV50R
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) May 2, 2023
Harris hosted a brunch where they were expected to push the agenda for the US-Philippines alliance as well as celebrate both countries’ bilateral efforts to boost prosperity, security, and friendship.
“I’m looking forward to our time together this morning but I wanted to thank you because the strength of the alliance between the United States and the Philippines is probably stronger than ever,” Harris said.
“Under your leadership, we have been able to continue to do the work that we have that is a priority of our mutual prosperity and security,” she added.
Marcos, in response, said Harris “laid the groundwork” for his visit to the United States and his meeting with Biden.
“I think that has given us the very attractive opportunity to continue to strengthen the relations between the two countries in the face — in the context of all the difficulties, the complexities, the rising tensions in our region and the world,” he said.
Biden earlier welcomed Marcos to the White House, where he told the Philippine president that there is no better partner than him as both countries face problems.
