Marcos wants closer ties with...

the chief executive said.

In response, Biden reiterated his government remains “ironclad in our commitment to the defense of the Philippines, including the South China Sea and we’re gonna continue [supporting] the Philippines’ military modernization.”

“Our countries not only share strong partnership. We share deep friendship, one that has been enriched by millions of Filipino Americans and the communities all across the United States,” the American leader stated.

Biden also noted the U.S.’ unwavering commitment to “tackle climate change, workers’ rights, rule of law and economic cooperation” with the Philippines.

Monday’s face-to-face was the second high-level meeting between the two presidents.

Their first meeting took place at the sidelines of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly in September 2022 in New York.

Marcos is on a four-day trip that follows last week’s state visit to Washington by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and a White House meeting in January between Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Biden greeted Marcos in the Oval Office.

A senior U.S. official said the Marcos visit — which began with a military honor guard outside the White House — was the first “at this level and intensity” between the two countries for decades.

“It is clear that we’re in a deeply consequential period in terms of our Indo-Pacific engagements,” the official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Alarm bells are ringing for Washington and its Asian allies as China moves ever more confidently to assert claims to sovereignty over almost the whole South China Sea, ignoring an international ruling that this has no legal basis.

The stand-off, combined with constant saber-rattling over Taiwan — the democratically run island that Beijing claims but Washington vows to help defend — has prompted the

Biden administration to rapidly bolster its military capabilities.

The Philippines, which lies close to key sea lanes and Taiwan, is of particular interest.

Marcos signaled as he left for Washington that he is wary of being caught between the superpowers, telling reporters, “We will not allow the Philippines to be used as a staging post for any kind of military action.”

This month, however, the Philippines identified four military bases — in addition to five existing sites — where U.S. forces will be given access, including one located near the tense Spratly Islands.

The two allies also carried out their largest-ever military maneuvers in recent weeks.

That has alarmed China, which accuses Washington of trying to drive a wedge between Beijing and Manila.

In a reminder of how diplomatic tensions can quickly echo in the real world, a Chinese ship on April 23 narrowly missed colliding with a much smaller Philippine Coast Guard vessel in the Spratly Islands.

The focus of talks between Biden and Yoon last week was on another regional flashpoint: nuclear-armed, communist North Korea.

Expressing disappointment that China has not done more to rein in North Korea, U.S. officials announced that a U.S. nuclear submarine would make a visit to South Korea soon — the first in decades.

During Kishida’s visit, Biden also underlined the U.S. treaty commitment to defend Japan.

Tokyo, meanwhile, is on a shopping spree to buy an arsenal of U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles.

The senior official briefing journalists ahead of Marcos’ visit said Manila is also “looking for reassurance and a strong desire to maintain peace and stability in this complex period.

“Recent events have caused much greater focus in both capitals on taking the necessary steps to up our game, to improve engagement on the security side between the United States and the Philippines.”

Although giving few details, the official said new “bilateral defense guidelines” would see “a series of steps to support the Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization.”

In an acknowledgment of Philippine sensitivities about the U.S. troop presence, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the sites slated to be used by the United States remain part of the Filipino military and “every single step of the way will be done in complete coordination.”

“It’s about our ability to be better allies to one another and meet our commitments to each other,” he added.

The shifting geostrategic situation in the Asia-Pacific region will be a major topic when Biden visits Japan for a G7 meeting later in the month.

The U.S. official said Biden would also meet separately during that trip in a trilateral format with the leaders of Japan and South Korea.

Biden then heads to Australia for a session of the Quad group: Australia, India, Japan and the United States. (With reports from Agence France-Presse) n

Bongbong Marcos is 1st foreign...

were the first to be given to a foreign head of state or government under the Biden administration, citing the U.S. Department of Defense protocol office. n