11-10-2024 (MANILA) Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has praised the United States for its role as a “force for peace, stability, and security in the Indo-Pacific” region. The statement, delivered on Friday, underscores the strengthening ties between Manila and Washington amidst growing regional tensions.
President Marcos expressed gratitude for the “consistent support” provided by the US in Southeast Asia, characterising the American presence as both “reliable and active”. He further pledged the Philippines’ “continued support” for US initiatives in the region, signalling a deepening of the longstanding alliance between the two nations.
“We welcome initiatives by the US to provide a platform and opportunities to exchange views on a diverse range of issues,” Marcos stated, highlighting areas of cooperation such as emerging technologies, energy transition, climate change, and maritime security. He specifically mentioned the Institute for Rising Leaders (IRL) Fellowship as an example of such collaborative efforts.
The Philippine leader’s comments came in the wake of strong criticism levelled at China by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during the ASEAN-China Summit. Blinken condemned what he described as China’s “increasingly dangerous and unlawful actions” in the South and East China Seas, accusing Beijing of injuring people and damaging vessels from ASEAN nations.
Blinken reaffirmed the US commitment to freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific, as well as the importance of protecting the Taiwan Strait. These statements align closely with the Philippines’ concerns over territorial disputes in the region, particularly in the West Philippine Sea.
The US has demonstrated its commitment to regional security through consistent participation in joint military exercises in the West Philippine Sea. Recently, Manila and Washington agreed to expand the number of Philippine military bases accessible to US troops, a move seen as bolstering the strategic partnership between the two countries.
President Marcos also emphasised the value that ASEAN member states place on US support for “ASEAN Centrality” in the evolving regional architecture. This concept, which positions ASEAN at the heart of regional diplomatic and security frameworks, has been a key principle in Southeast Asian international relations.
