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Marcos to Maintain U.S. Ties, Tread Carefully With China

Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. during a rally in Las Pinas City, suburban Manila, on March 13. — Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. during a rally in Las Pinas City, suburban Manila, on March 13.
Photographer: Jam Sta Rosa/AFP/Getty Images

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March 16, 2022, 5:58 AM UTCUpdated onMarch 16, 2022, 6:29 AM UTC

Philippine presidential frontrunner Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he would maintain the nation’s alliance with the U.S., and tread carefully with Beijing over a South China Sea territorial dispute.

Military deals between the U.S. and the Philippines “are advantageous to both countries,” Marcos told a virtual forum Wednesday. The alliance between the two nations is “a special relationship,” and the U.S. “can do many things” to help the Philippines, he said.