President Marcos to ask Biden: Help calm disputed sea

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos will ask the US and other allies to help “calm the waters” in the South China Sea, which he believes should be a “sea of peace” where freedom of navigation and unhampered trade are guaranteed and protected, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Teresita Daza said yesterday.

Marcos is set to leave for Washington tomorrow for a five-day official visit. He is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House on May 1.

“Now, in terms of the President’s visit and in terms of the South China Sea issue, I think the President – this is just … I cannot preempt the President, but I think the President will underscore what we want the waters to be. And we want the waters, the sea, particularly South China Sea and West Philippine Sea, to be a sea of peace, security and stability and prosperity,” Daza said during a press briefing at Malacañang.

“Because if it’s a sea of peace, security and stability, then the country can grow, then the region can grow and prosper,” she said.

Daza said the President would count on the US for support in terms of enhancing maritime cooperation, upholding international law and freedom of navigation and overflight and promoting sustainable development of marine resources in the waterways.

“He would also I think underscore that from the perspective of the Philippines and members of the region, we are looking at great partners, including the United States, to calm the waters because as I earlier said, we want the waters to be a sea of peace,” Daza said.

She said the Philippines is also “very wary” of further escalation of tensions in the region.

The President’s visit comes days after the two countries concluded their largest-ever joint military exercises called Balikatan.

Marcos earlier said he would bring up the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the US during his meeting with Biden.

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said arrangements are being made for a dinner of the two leaders at the Blair House, which is across the White House, but nothing is confirmed yet.

Meanwhile, Daza said Marcos’ visit would also focus on his administration’s economic agenda, including the promotion of the country as a trading partner and investment market.

The Chief Executive is also expected to sit down with legislators, as well as with leaders of major US companies and business groups.

In Washington, the President would deliver a major policy speech before a think tank.

He will also meet with the members of the Filipino community. There are about 4.4 million Filipinos in the US.

“I think for this trip, there will be a heavy emphasis in terms of the economic agenda; how the President will actually work to advance his priorities in terms of agriculture and food security, in terms of infrastructure development, in terms of renewable energy and clean energy,” Daza said. — Paolo Romero, Ramon Efren Lazaro