Marcos, Biden affirm need to maintain peace in Taiwan

WASHINGTON - President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and United States President Joe Biden on Monday (Tuesday, PH time) expressed the need to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

In a joint statement of the two leaders following their meeting at the White House, it was said that they have affirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of global security and prosperity.

Earlier, Philippine Ambassador to US Jose Manuel Romualdez said complications arising from the US and China dispute over Taiwan is unavoidable.

China and Taiwan split at the end of a civil war in 1949. China has since viewed democratic Taiwan as part of its territory.

The US, for its part, has been deliberately ambiguous on whether it would defend Taiwan militarily.

Ukraine

Meanwhile, Marcos and Biden also conveyed their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity with its recognized borders.

They acknowledged that the conflict in Ukraine “has adversely affected food and energy security in the Indo-Pacific.”

In February of last year, Russia attacked Ukraine causing massive casualties and destruction. —KG, GMA Integrated News