Marcos welcomes US senators, stresses strong PH-US partnership amid China tensions

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomed US senators Roger Wicker and Deb Fisher at Malacañang Palace on Thursday, August 28.

Marcos emphasized the strong partnership between the Philippines and the United States amid ongoing tensions in the country's territorial waters, expressing gratitude for support in modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The meeting focused on deepening defense collaboration through bilateral and multilateral arrangements in the Indo-Pacific region, with Marcos highlighting the need to respond to security challenges, particularly those in the West Philippine Sea due to China’s continued encroachment.

Senator Wicker highlighted the growing closeness of the US-Philippines alliance as 'one of the most important', noting mutual support and significant progress in their relationship.

Marcos reaffirmed the country's commitment to its alliance with the US, underscoring the deepening defense cooperation amid security challenges in the Asia Pacific and emphasizing Manila’s willingness to enhance bilateral and regional ties beyond just bilateral efforts.

The President dismissed China's narrative that the Philippines acts as a puppet state for the United States, asserting it took little research to disprove this claim.