BANGKOK, Thailand —President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. does not believe the upcoming visit of US Vice President Kamala Harris to Palawan will further fuel the tensions between Philippines and China, saying it will not cause problems.
During a media interview here on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit on Saturday, Nov. 19, Marcos said Harris will just merely visit a territory of the country.
"No. I don’t see why they should. She is in the Philippines and she is visiting another part of the Philippines. And of course, it is the closest area to the South China Sea but it’s very clearly on Philippine territory," the President stressed.
"So I don’t think there should be --- I don’t think it will cause problems," he added.
Harris will visit Puerto Princesa, Palawan on November 22.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Harris will receive a briefing on the PCG's current maritime operations. She will be onboard the BRP Teresa Magbanua, the newly-acquired ship of the Coast Guard.
Meanwhile, Marcos said he will not necessarily raise issues during his meeting with the American official but he would only reiterate that the two countries' relations must continue to evolve.
"Well, it’s not necessarily issues to be raised but really I have always said that the relationship between the United States and the Philippines must continue to evolve, and it will be that," he said.
The chief executive also said that maintaining the Asia Pacific region's security and defense is not a job that can be done by a single country but a "joint response" from countries.
"Well, things have changed. How do we... What will the United States do in response, and what do they expect from their partners in the region. I think the --- when it comes to the security and defense in the Asia Pacific, it really has to be --- it really has to be a joint response. I don’t think a single country should --- I don’t think any single country should do it alone. I think we will do much better if we respond as a group, and I think the other countries agree," Marcos stressed.