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☆ Kamala Harris’ visit to the Philippines sends China a message of US intent
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

According to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, the Philippines occupies nine features in the Spratly chain while China occupies seven. In 2016, a tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in a maritime dispute, concluding China has no legal basis to claim historic rights to the bulk of the South China Sea. “Philippine President Marcos appears open to the idea of pursuing pragmatic cooperation in the South China Sea, while not surrendering its long-standing position when it comes to the territorial issues in the South China Sea,” Banlaoi said. During her trip to the Philippines, Harris is expected to make a number of other announcements including tighter US cooperation with Manila on clean energy, cybersecurity, communication and agriculture. The deals show US intent in the Pacific region, but one South China Sea expert said Harris’ trip to the military base risks aggravating Beijing to the potential detriment of the Philippines.

Harris also plans a highly symbolic stop on the Philippine islands of Palawan in the South China Sea to show U.S. support for its ally. "So if they want American support in the South China Sea, the Americans will expect Philippine support on Taiwan." "The second Philippine demand is a continued clear commitment to defend Filipinos in the South China Sea," Poling said. If there was a Chinese attack on a Philippine base in the South China Sea tomorrow, could the Americans actually do anything about it? China claims 90% of the South China Sea as its sovereign territory, but is opposed by five Southeast Asian states and Taiwan.

☆ With Philippines visit VP Harris seeks to reset relations
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

REBUILDING TIESThe visit by Harris will be the highest-level trip to the Philippines by an administration official and marks a sharp turnaround in relations. With Marcos in office, the Biden administration is attempting a reset. China claims 90% of the South China Sea as its sovereign territory, but is opposed by five Southeast Asian states and Taiwan. Arsenio Andolong, a Philippine defense department spokesman, told Reuters there is no reason for China to fear Harris' visit. A senior Biden administration official offered a different summary.

☆ U.S. Vice President Harris to affirm defense commitment to Philippines
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Karen Lema | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MANILA, Nov 21 (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will reaffirm American commitments to the defence of the Philippines when she meets with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Manila on Monday, a senior U.S. administration official said. "The vice president will underscore our commitment to stand up for the international rules and norms because we recognise the impact that that has on Philippine lives and livelihoods," the U.S. official said. "The vice president will tell President Marcos that we are pleased to see our security ties in such strong position," the U.S. official said. Washington and the Philippines have moved ahead with an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) that dates back to the Obama administration and that languished under Duterte. Last week, Philippine military chief Bartolome Bacarro said the United States had proposed including five more bases in the EDCA, including one in Palawan.

☆ Days after Biden's face-to-face meeting with Xi Jinping, Kamala Harris is making a rare trip to a South China Sea hotspot
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Palawan looks over the South China Sea, where Beijing and its neighbors have competing claims. "This is another historic visit, as the vice president is the highest-ranking US official ever to visit Palawan," a senior administration official told reporters on Tuesday. It divides the Sulu Sea and the South China Sea, where the Philippines is one of several countries that dispute Beijing's expansive claims. The Philippine province of Palawan separates the Sulu Sea and the South China Sea. Asked on Tuesday how China should view the trip, the US official said, "China can take the message it wants.

☆ U.S. grants Philippines $100 million in foreign military financing
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ABOARD USS RONALD REAGAN, Oct 14 (Reuters) - The United States has made available $100 million in foreign military financing to the Philippines, its ambassador in Manila said on Friday, part of efforts to boost the Southeast Asian country's defence capabilities and military modernisation. The new military financing underscores improved defence ties between the treaty allies under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, whose predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, shifted his country's foreign policy away from the United States to pursue warmer ties with China. "The United States has now made available $100 million in foreign military financing in part for the Philippine military to use as it wishes," Ambassador MaryKay Carlson told a media briefing aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, which was on a scheduled port call in Manila. Manila is looking to buy heavy-lift Chinook helicopters from the United States. The amount includes $475.3 million worth of foreign military financing to Philippines, among the biggest in Southeast Asia.

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