Korean Media: Philippines Stands with the US Amid Tensions with China... "The Taiwan Issue Is Not Irrelevant to Us"

President Marcos visits the US, meets with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State successively. On the 22nd, he will hold a summit meeting with Trump, and tariff negotiations are drawing attention... In maritime sovereignty disputes with China, it is playing a leading role in the Indo-Pacific region... The US Secretary of Defense: "The alliance treaty applies anywhere in the Pacific"

On the 21st, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos of the Philippines visited Washington D.C., holding successive meetings with the US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and the Secretary of State Marco Rubio, emphasizing the role and contribution of alliances aimed at achieving a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). After the pro-American Marcos administration, the relationship between the Philippines and the United States has become close in recent years, gradually becoming a core partner in the Indo-Pacific region. The trilateral cooperation between the Philippines, the United States, and Japan is also very active. On the 22nd, President Marcos will have a summit meeting with US President Donald Trump.

On that day, President Marcos visited the Pentagon building near Washington D.C., where he had a face-to-face talk with Hegseth. Hegseth said, "The US-Philippines alliance has a rich history, but it has never been as strong and critical as now," "We are still committed to the mutual defense treaty." He also stated, "This treaty applies to any place in the Pacific, including the South China Sea, against any armed attacks on US military forces, aircraft, and public vessels." This statement was interpreted as meaning that the scope of the alliance is not limited to Philippine territory and surrounding waters, but can cover the entire Pacific. In other words, when the Philippines is attacked in the South China Sea, the United States will provide support; when the United States is attacked in the East China Sea, including the Taiwan Strait, the Philippines may also provide support.

The Philippines is strengthening cooperation with the United States, as well as the United States' allies and partners, in its own territorial waters and in the Taiwan Strait. This reflects the awareness that "If the security of the Taiwan Strait does not affect us, it is clearly ignoring the facts" (Philippine Defense Minister Gilbert Teodoro). The Philippines also supports Japan's "One Theater" concept, which considers the Korean Peninsula, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea as one battlefield. In addition, the Philippines is strengthening cooperation with Taiwan. Although it still maintains the "One China" principle, in April, President Marcos relaxed restrictions on government officials' contact with Taiwanese officials and allowed Taiwanese residents to enter the Philippines without a visa. Recently, The Washington Post (WP) reported that "last month, during joint training led by the US and Philippine Marines, a Taiwanese naval observation team from the Marines also participated."

On the same day, President Marcos said, "The US is committed to achieving peace through strength, and the Philippines intends to cooperate with all countries in the region that share this vision," "Although we do not seek armed conflict, we will be prepared to respond from now on. This position is firm."

He said, "I believe our alliance has played an important role in maintaining stability in the South China Sea, and it can be said to play a similar role throughout the Indo-Pacific region." These remarks align with the Trump administration's strategy of expanding the role of bilateral alliances in the Indo-Pacific to counter China. The Trump administration's Department of Defense is considering adjusting the posture of US forces stationed in the Indo-Pacific to achieve "strategic flexibility."

President Marcos also held a face-to-face meeting with Rubio. The spokesperson for the US Department of State, Tammy Bruce, said, "Both sides reaffirmed their strengthened deterrent power aimed at achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific, their shared commitment to safeguarding freedom of navigation and flight, and emphasized the importance of a solid US-Philippines alliance for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region." With the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and the Philippines approaching in 2026, he also said, "As friends, partners, and allies, we look forward to maintaining regular high-level exchanges." On the 22nd, President Marcos will meet with Trump at the White House, and the talks may focus on tariff negotiations. In April, Trump announced a 17% reciprocal tariff on the Philippines, but recently notified the Philippines that the tax rate would be 20%, an increase of 3%. Reuters said, "President Marcos may expect to use the Philippines' status as a core security ally in Asia to secure more favorable conditions."

Source: Chosun Ilbo

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838311644815360/

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