Biden praises Marcos for stance on China in South China Sea

Outgoing US President Joe Biden praised Philippine President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. for his firm diplomatic response to China's aggression in the South China Sea during a trilateral phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Monday.

Biden highlighted historic progress made among the three nations, particularly in maritime security, economic resilience, and technology cooperation since their April 2024 summit in Washington.

The US leader expressed serious concerns about China's dangerous behavior in the South China Sea, which is a critical conduit for global trade.

During the call, the leaders agreed to continue advancing their cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region to promote a free and open environment.

China has recently increased its presence in the area with the deployment of the world’s largest coast guard ship within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

The Philippines continues to refer to parts of the South China Sea as the West Philippine Sea, emphasizing ongoing maritime disputes.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines against China's claims over the South China Sea, although Beijing has ignored this decision.