Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine paid a courtesy call on Philippine President Marcos at the Malacañan Palace on Thursday where she raised concern over China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as she urged the Philippine leader to consider coordinating with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
“I want to raise concerns over PRC [People’s Republic of China] present actions on the South China Sea. This is a concern not only for the 7 for us in the region as well who look forward to a secure region,” Heine said.
“We suggest that the Philippines consider contacting Pacific Islands Forum for support. First of all, the team of the Pacific Island countries there are numbers of the Forum,” the Marshallese president added.
The Philippines considers the PIF as an important platform for enhancing cooperation with the Pacific Island Countries.
President Heine assured President Marcos that they will assist the Philippines in whatever decision it will make as far as the PIF is concerned, saying they are willing to extend support to the country in the regional or international arena.
For his part, President Marcos extended his gratitude to President Heine for supporting the stand of the Philippines in the WPS saying the country is relying on support from international rulings.
“So, I hope that Marshall Islands will be able to support us on that. I think, we have the same interest and we have the same values,” Marcos told Heine, referring to the WPS issue.
The formal diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Marshall Islands span 35 years since its establishment on 15 September 1988.
In 2023, total trade with Marshall Islands reached US$36 million with exports valued at US$3.5 million and imports at US$32.4 million.
An estimated 1,500 Filipinos are working in Marshall Islands in the fields of clerical support, craft and trade, machine operators and professionals, among others while the Philippines recorded a total of 233 Marshallese tourists arriving in the country in 2022.
