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Joe Biden and the Philippines’ Ferdinand Marcos Jnr discuss tensions in South China Sea

  • The 2 leaders held their first face-to-face meeting, underlining the stunning turnaround in fortunes for the disgraced former first family of the Philippines
  • The country is a key US ally and vital strategically in case of any US need to defend Taiwan militarily from a mainland Chinese attack

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US President Joe Biden meets Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr in New York on Thursday. Photo: AP
US President Joe Biden and his Philippine counterpart, Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, underscored their support for freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea on Thursday, in response to China’s efforts to exert its influence there.

Biden and Marcos Jnr held their first face-to-face talks on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Marcos Jnr, son of the late Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos, took power in June.

“The leaders discussed the situation in the South China Sea and underscored their support for freedom of navigation and overflight and the peaceful resolution of disputes,” the White House said in a statement after the talks.

Biden said as the two men began their talks that he wanted to talk about the South China Sea, Covid-19 and renewable energy. He thanked Marcos for opposing Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The United States has accused China of increased “provocations” against rival claimants to territory in the South China Sea and other countries operating there.

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