US assures deeper relations with PH under Biden

WASHINGTON D.C. — The United States has assured that it will continue to deepen its relations with the Philippines should President Joe Biden continue to lead the world’s most powerful country, amid the ongoing issues in the South China Sea.

In a press briefing at the Philippine Embassy here, White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said relations between the two countries are not set to change so long as Biden remains President.

“What I can assure you and the Filipino people, and of course President (Ferdinand “Bongbong”) Marcos (Jr.) and his team is that as long as President Biden is commander-in-chief, as long as he is the President of the United States, we will continue to work hard for this relationship and do everything we can to improve it because it’s so important,” he said.

“All by itself it’s so important and then when you throw it in, when you’re able to look at things like trilateral or quadrilateral cooperation, it becomes all the more relevant, particularly when we look at what’s going on at the South China Sea,” he added.

Kirby was responding to a query on how the United States can guarantee its position regarding the issues concerning the South China Sea, as it is set to hold its presidential elections in November.

For his part, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said that should there be any change in administration, this is unlikely to impact Washington’s foreign policy moving forward.

“I’m confident that any change of administration will not affect the foreign policy of the United States, specially in the Indo-Pacific region because, if you remember, I’ve been here since 2017, during that time of President Trump,” he said.

“Many of the things that we’ve spoke about during that time is actually being followed now by the current administration of President Biden so if there’s any change, most of the people that were with President Trump most likely will also be joining his administration if he wins,” he added.

Marcos is set to meet with Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday, April 11, for the inaugural trilateral leaders summit where they are set to discuss opportunities for boosting cooperation across various areas of mutual interest.

Just last week, naval and air forces of the three countries, along with Australia conducted a Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) in the West Philippine Sea, in line with their commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation.

The China Coast Guard on March 23 water cannoned a Philippine resupply ship en route to the Ayungin Shoal, causing heavy damage and hurting three sailors. It was on a mission to provide supplies to the decrepit Navy vessel – the BRP Sierra Madre – that has been aground in the country’s outpost in the area.

Just last week Marcos said the Philippines wanted to maintain peace in the West Philippine Sea, but it needs to “respond to the actual situation on the ground.” — BAP, GMA Integrated News