US, China congratulate Marcos on poll win
MANILA: The United States and China have congratulated Ferdinand Marcos Jr on his win in the Philippine presidential election, as the superpowers jostle to have the strongest ties with the Southeast Asian nation.
Mr Marcos, the son and namesake of the late Philippine dictator, secured more than half of the votes in Monday’s poll to win the presidency by a wide margin and cap a remarkable comeback for his family.
He and running mate Sara Duterte, who also won the vice-presidential race in a landslide, have embraced key policies of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, including his position on China. The elder Duterte sought to pivot away from the United States, the Philippines’ former colonial master, towards China since taking power in 2016 — and appeared reluctant to confront Beijing over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
Even before Mr Marcos declared victory, the US and Chinese presidents were quick off the mark to start building a personal relationship seen as strategically vital by both rivals.
In a phone call on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Mr Marcos the two countries had been “partners through thick and thin”, Chinese state television reported yesterday.
“I attach great importance to the development of China-Philippines relations and am willing to establish a good working relationship with President-elect Marcos, adhere to good neighbourliness and friendship,” Mr Xi said.
In a call, US President Joe Biden congratulated Mr Marcos and said he wanted to expand cooperation on issues, including climate change and “respect for human rights”.