Joe Biden, Marcos set to meet as tensions grow with China

President Joe Biden is set to host President Ferdinand Marcos Jr of the Philippines for White House talks on Monday as concerns grow about the Chinese navys harassment of Philippine vessels in the South China SeaMarcos visit to Washington comes after the US and Philippines last week completed their largest war drills ever and as the two countries air forces on Monday will hold their first joint fighter jet training in the Philippines since 1990The Philippines this year agreed to give the US access to four more bases on the islands as the US looks to deter Chinas increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China SeaMeanwhile China has angered the Philippines by repeatedly harassing its navy and coast guard patrols and chasing away fishermen in waters close to Philippine shores but which Beijing claims as its ownBefore departing for Washington on Sunday Macros said he was determined to forge an ever stronger relationship with the United States in a wide range of areas that not only address the concerns of our times but also those that are critical to advancing our core interestsMondays Oval Office meeting is the latest highlevel diplomacy with Pacific leaders by Biden as his administration contends with increased military and economic assertiveness by China and worries about North Koreas nuclear programMarcos official visit to Washington is the first by a Philippine president in more than 10 yearsThe US president hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for a state visit last week in which the two leaders introduced new steps aimed at deterring North Korea from launching an attack on neighbours Biden is scheduled to travel to Japan and Australia in MayThe two sides are expected to discuss the security situation and come out with new economic education climate and other initiatives as part of Marcos fourday visit to Washington a senior administration official told The Associated PressThe official who spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the visit said Biden administration officials are looking to redevelop habits of alliance building with the Philippines as aspects of the historically complicated relationship have atrophied over the yearsIncreased Chinese harassment of vessels in the South China Sea have added another dimension to the visitOn April 23 journalists from AP and other outlets were aboard the Philippine coast guards BRP Malapascua near Second Thomas Shoal when a Chinese coast guard ship blocked the Philippine patrol vessel steaming into the disputed shoal The Philippines has filed more than 200 diplomatic protests against China since last year at least 77 since Marcos took office in JuneAlso Read Twitter to allow media publishers to charge users per article Elon MuskState Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on Saturday called media reporting on the encounters a stark reminder of Chinese harassment and intimidation of Philippine vessels as they undertake routine patrols within their exclusive economic zone We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conductClose USPhilippines relations were not a given when Marcos took office The son and namesake of the late Philippines strongman had seemed intent on following the path of his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte who pursued closer ties with ChinaBefore Marcos took office last year Kurt Campbell coordinator for IndoPacific affairs on the White House National Security Council acknowledged that historical considerations could present challenges to the relationship with Marcos Jr It was an oblique reference to longstanding litigation in the United States against the estate of his father Ferdinand MarcosA US appeals court in 1996 upheld damages of about USD 2 billion against the elder Marcos estate for the torture and killings of thousands of Filipinos The court upheld a 1994 verdict of a jury in Hawaii where he fled after being forced from power in 1986 He died there in 1989Biden and Macros met in September during the UN General Assembly where the US president acknowledged the two countries sometimes rocky pastDuring their private meeting Biden stressed to Marcos his desire to improve relations and asked Marcos how the administration could fulfill your dreams and hopes for that according to the senior administration officialMarcos is also slated to visit the Pentagon meet Cabinet members and business leaders and make remarks at a Washington thinktank during the visitThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever