Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has welcomed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin to Manila, stressing the need for regular and open engagement between Manila and Washington to ensure an “agile” response amid continuing tension in the disputed South China Sea.Marcos has moved the Philippines closer to the United States since replacing Rodrigo Duterte in 2022.On Tuesday, he greeted Blinken and Austin at the Malacanang Palace ahead of meetings with their Filipino counterparts, Enrique Manalo and Gilberto Teodoro. It is the first time Manila has hosted the so-called “2+2” meetings between the two countries.
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