The official said that as part of moves to boost commercial ties, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo would a lead a presidential business delegation to the Philippines.
Experts say Washington sees the Philippines as a potential location for rockets, missiles and artillery systems to counter a Chinese amphibious invasion of Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said after the first combined meeting of top U.S. and Philippines defense officials earlier this month that it was “too early” to discuss what assets the United States would like to station at bases in the Philippines.It is a delicate issue for Manila, not only because of its concerns about China, its main trading partner, but given domestic opposition to U.S. military presence in the past.
“It is an attempt to build a new relationship that will obviously have important security elements, but … the idea and goal while President Marcos is in town is to demonstrate other elements.”