Looking to the future: Marcos Jr and Biden meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. — AP
US President Joe Biden pledged in his first face-to-face meeting with new Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to work to strengthen relations with the Pacific nation after what he said had been some “rocky times” in the past.
Meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, the leaders discussed tensions in the South China Sea, the long-standing security relationship between the United States and the Philippines, stresses to the global economy and food security caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and other issues.
Biden also noted that the Philippines was among US allies to quickly condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“We’ve had some rocky times, but the fact is it’s a critical, critical relationship, from our perspective. I hope you feel the same way,” Biden said at the start of the meeting.
The relationship hit bumps during the presidency of Marcos Jr’s predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.
Human rights groups say Duterte’s “war on drugs” resulted in thousands of extrajudicial killings. According to human rights groups, virtually all the killings, carried out by police and armed vigilantes, occurred without due process and the vast majority of victims were unarmed, poor low-level offenders.
The United States has suspended counter- narcotics assistance to the Philippine National Police since 2016.
The White House said the leaders discussed “the importance of respect for human rights”.
Thursday’s talks come amid heightened tensions between the United States and China over America’s Taiwan policy. The “One China” policy recognises Beijing as the government of China but allows informal relations and defence ties with Taiwan. China claims the self-ruled island as its own.
Marcos Jr, the son and namesake of the country’s former dictator, took office in June. He says he wants to pursue closer ties with China, which has also sought to court him.
Biden has put a premium on improving relations with Pacific nations in the early going of his presidency.
Marcos Jr underscored to Biden that the Philippines is “your partners, we are your allies, we are your friends”.
He also thanked the United States for its “massive” assistance during the pandemic, including sharing Covid-19 vaccines, and for its role in ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
“The 100-plus-year-old relationship between the Philippines and the US continues to evolve as we face the challenges of this new century,” he added. — AP
