US VP Kamala Harris to visit Philippine island amid South China Sea feud
- The US politician is due in Manila on Sunday evening before meeting President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr for talks on Monday
- On Tuesday she’ll fly to Palawan, at forefront of territorial disputes involving Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan
Vice-President Kamala Harris would underscore America’s commitment to defending treaty ally the Philippines with a visit due to start on Sunday that includes flying to an island province facing the disputed South China Sea, where Washington has accused China of bullying smaller claimant nations.
After attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Thailand, Harris is expected to travel to Manila and meet President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr for talks on Monday.
They are aimed at reinforcing Washington’s oldest treaty alliance in Asia and strengthening economic ties, said a senior US administration official, who was not identified according to practice, in an online briefing ahead of the visit.
On Tuesday Harris will fly to Palawan province, which lies along the South China Sea, to meet local fishermen, villagers, officials and the coastguard. Once there, she will be the highest-ranking US leader to visit the frontier island at the forefront of the long-seething territorial disputes involving China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
The Philippine coastguard is expected to welcome Harris on board one of its largest patrol ships, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, in Palawan, where she is expected to deliver a speech to coastguard, police, military and government officials, according to coastguard spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo.
Harris will underscore the importance of international law, unimpeded commerce and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, the US official said.
