US supports pushback vs Chinese aggression

THE United States will continue to stand with the Philippines in the face of what it called China's aggression in the South China Sea that needs to be «pushed back appropriately.»

In a meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), who led the US congressional delegation, assured President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of Washington's support for Manila.

«We share your concern about China's aggression with regard to many of the issues around the Philippines. We stand with you and we want to continue to stand by you, and with you, and to push that aggression back appropriately,» Gillibrand told Marcos.

Welcoming the delegation, the President said he hoped they would have a productive time discussing the «geopolitical complications» the Philippines faces.

The visit of the delegation, made up of six senators and a congressman, comes as the government filed a protest against China for firing water cannons at a Philippine boat on a resupply mission to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, damaging the ship and injuring four servicemen.

It also comes a few weeks ahead of a summit in Washington, D.C., in which US President Joe Biden will meet with Marcos and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida about security issues in the region.

Gillibrand highlighted the economic and security partnership between the two countries.

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«We're grateful for the steadfast partnership we had economically. We're grateful to have you as an ally. Each of those roles is essential for the United States, and we hope to continue to play those roles,» she said.

The senator also pointed to the «strong friendship» between the two nations, with 4 million Filipinos living and working in the United States.

«We're very grateful for all the contributions the Filipino community has made in the United States.

»You're the forefront of health care; you're the forefront of tech; many of your countrymen have served in our armed services. And so, we're very grateful for all the contributions that Filipino Americans continue to make throughout the country."

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Gillibrand said the two countries were at «a moment of extraordinary opportunity,» especially for economic ties, whether they