Harris, U.S. Vice President, to Visit the Philippines on the 22nd... Concerns Over Rising Tensions with China

Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States [Photo by Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States, is scheduled to visit Palawan Island in the Philippines on the 22nd (local time), according to major foreign media citing a senior U.S. government official on the 15th. The foreign media added that Palawan Island is located at the edge of the South China Sea, where China is engaged in territorial disputes, and that the visit could provoke China.

Vice President Harris, ranked second in the U.S. power hierarchy, will be the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Palawan Island. Previously, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House and third in the U.S. power hierarchy, visited Taiwan, which significantly escalated U.S.-China tensions. The fact that Vice President Harris is visiting the South China Sea shortly after the first face-to-face summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the 14th may also be displeasing to China.

Vice President Harris is expected to visit Palawan Island after attending the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in Bangkok, Thailand, on the 18th and 19th.

A senior U.S. government official stated, "Vice President Harris is expected to meet with local residents, civic groups, and Philippine Coast Guard officials on Palawan Island." The official added, "The U.S. government will demonstrate support for its ally, the Philippine government, affirm support for the order in the South China Sea based on international maritime law, and oppose illegal fishing activities."

China claims sovereignty over the waters near Palawan Island and most of the South China Sea based on its historical maps. The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruled in 2016 that China’s claims in the South China Sea have no legal basis, but there have been no effective measures to enforce the ruling.

The South China Sea is a crucial maritime trade route with approximately $5 trillion worth of goods traded annually and holds vast reserves of oil and gas, making it economically valuable. The Philippines is also a strategic military and economic hub in Southeast Asia, where the U.S. and China are fiercely competing for influence through diplomatic efforts. Since taking office in June, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos has emphasized the importance of the military alliance with the U.S., unlike his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who was more China-friendly, and has advocated for pragmatic diplomacy.

The Philippines announced that it will begin construction of training facilities and weapon storage facilities at three military bases on the same day, stating that the U.S. will invest $66.5 billion under the 2014 Mutual Defense Agreement.

During her first Southeast Asia tour after assuming the vice presidency in August last year, U.S. Vice President Harris strongly criticized China for its illegal territorial claims in the South China Sea, using terms such as coercion and intimidation. At that time, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded by accusing the U.S. of arbitrarily slandering, oppressing, and harassing other countries to maintain America First policies without paying any price.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.