PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in a phone call with US Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday that he was optimistic about the Philippines’ continued robust relations with the United States even with the coming change in the country’s leadership.
“As typical with the relationship between the Philippines and the US, it’s on every level, in every facet: on the economic level, on the diplomatic level, and defense and security,” Marcos said.
“And the progress that we have made is encouraging and we just hope to build on that and continue to work on what we have begun and continue to stand for our shared values and the rule of international law,” he added.
The two leaders agreed on the importance of observing and respecting international rules and norms in the South China Sea “in the face of provocations from the People’s Republic of China,” with Harris assuring solid support from Washington in terms of security, economic prosperity and people-to-people connections.
Harris stressed the importance of maintaining trilateral ties between the Philippines, the US and Japan.
“As we discussed with President Biden on Sunday, the trilateral cooperation with Japan is a very important way to deepen our economic cooperation and build secured supply chains as well as promote security across the region,” Harris said.
“And I echo the president’s conversation with you about the work that you will do with the next administration in terms of reinforcing the importance of that trilateral cooperation and the critical nature of it to maintain security in the South China Sea,” she added.
During Harris’ Philippine visit in Nov. 2022, she discussed with Marcos cooperation on climate and clean energy, technology, critical minerals and semiconductor supply chains, maritime security, and inclusive economic growth.
The conversation with Harris came following Marcos’ virtual meeting with US President Joe Biden and Japan Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru on Monday.
Biden and Harris have been engaging in calls with allies and partners ahead of the end of their terms on Jan. 20.
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