PH-US reaffirm commitment to deterrence, free and open Indo-Pacific

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have underscored their commitment to bolster Manila and Washington's economic and defense engagement in the face of China’s aggressive posturing in the disputed South China Sea.

Ahead of Marcos' first summit with US President Trump at the White House on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), the Philippine leader and America's top diplomat met in Washington on Monday and noted the importance of "deterrence" while "reinforcing freedoms of navigation and overflight in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific."

They also said that the "ironclad" US-Philippines alliance is crucial in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Marcos and Rubio also highlighted the two allies' increasing economic cooperation through the US-envisioned growth region in Asia, called the Luzon economic corridor, for major infrastructure and other key projects.

A readout on the meeting by the US State Department said Marcos and Rubio discussed efforts to advance their countries' shared prosperity, including through the Luzon Economic Corridor, by strengthening supply chains and delivering economic growth to the Philippines and the US.

"The Secretary and President Marcos looked forward to maintaining regular high-level engagement between the United States and the Philippines as friends, partners, and allies, particularly ahead of the 80th anniversary of United States-Philippines diplomatic relations in 2026," the statement said.

Both Manila and Washington share concerns on China's increasingly assertive behavior in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims nearly in its entirety.

The US has repeatedly said it would come to the Philippines' aid if Filipino forces, ships or aircraft comes under attack anywhere in South China Sea under a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.

China has deployed much larger fleets of coast guard, navy and suspected maritime militia ships in the past years to assert that extensive claim against smaller claimant states, which are the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei.

Confrontations have spiked between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and navy ships in the disputed waters in recent years.

The US has been helping the Philippines in strengthening its territorial defense as the Marcos administration expands its security alliances with "like-minded" military powers.

Washington has also forged a trilateral bloc with Japan and the Philippines to boost security, economic and investment engagements. Such alliances would help its two allies, which both face similar territorial disputes with China, diversify their trading engagements as a buffer in case the disputes spill into the economic front. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News