Growing China Tensions Prompt Biden to Host Philippines Leader Marcos
The United States and China have been engaged in a long-standing trade war, with both countries imposing tariffs on each other’s goods. However, tensions have escalated in recent months, with China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea and its crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. As a result, President Joe Biden has invited Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte to the White House to discuss growing concerns over China’s expansionist policies.
The Philippines is a key ally of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region, and its strategic location makes it an important player in the ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea. China claims almost all of the South China Sea, which is home to some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes and is believed to be rich in oil and gas reserves. However, several other countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei, also have overlapping claims in the region.
China has been building artificial islands in the South China Sea and deploying military equipment on them, which has raised concerns among neighboring countries and the United States. The US has been conducting freedom of navigation operations in the region to challenge China’s claims and assert its own presence in the area.
The Philippines has been one of the most vocal opponents of China’s actions in the South China Sea, and it has taken its case to international tribunals. In 2016, an international tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines, saying that China’s claims to most of the South China Sea were invalid. However, China rejected the ruling and continued its activities in the region.
President Duterte has been criticized for his friendly stance towards China, but he has also sought to balance his country’s relations with both China and the United States. He has expressed his willingness to work with the US on issues such as counterterrorism and economic development, while also seeking closer ties with China.
The upcoming meeting between President Biden and President Duterte is expected to focus on a range of issues, including the South China Sea disputes, human rights concerns in the Philippines, and economic cooperation. The US has pledged to provide COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines, which has been hit hard by the pandemic.
The meeting is also seen as a signal of the US’s renewed commitment to its allies in the Asia-Pacific region, following years of neglect under the Trump administration. The US has been seeking to strengthen its alliances in the region to counter China’s growing influence, and the Philippines is an important partner in this effort.
In conclusion, the growing tensions between the United States and China over the South China Sea disputes have prompted President Biden to host Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte at the White House. The meeting is expected to focus on a range of issues, including the South China Sea disputes, human rights concerns in the Philippines, and economic cooperation. It is also seen as a signal of the US’s renewed commitment to its allies in the Asia-Pacific region and its efforts to counter China’s growing influence.
