Biden’s presidency is good for the Philippines – think tank

MANILA – If Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden secures the White House, it will be good for the Philippines amid its ongoing maritime dispute with China, a think tank said Thursday.

A Biden administration will establish a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region as Beijing continues its aggressive moves in the South China Sea, Stratbase ADR Institute president Dindo Manhit said.

“What is good with a Biden presidency, there will be a renewed confidence and respectability regarding American leadership globally, not only in Asia Pacific, but also in Europe,” Manhit told the ANC.

“It gives more credibility to American power or soft power or influence around the world. That would be good for the Philippines because a key ally in our own security challenges, in our own maritime dispute, has always been the United States. “

Manhit noted that US actions in the strategic waterway, where other countries like Malaysia and Vietnam also have competing claims, come not from incumbent President Donald Trump, but from his state and defense departments.

If Biden wins the election, the United States will strengthen its alliances with like-minded countries, moving away from Trump’s US-centric policies.

“His foreign policy, if you read it carefully and delve into it, speaks of strengthening democracies. That means building renewed alliances between like-minded democratic societies that share your values, ”Manhit said of Biden.

“And that’s what we need in this world. A liberal democratic world that has created prosperity around the world and elevated poverty. “

When asked whether a Biden presidency will affect the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, who has sought friendlier ties with China and Russia, he said that remains to be seen.

Manhit said Biden can focus on internal challenges in his first year in office, while Duterte only has less than 2 years left in his term.

“There may not be too much noise from interfering in the internal affairs of other countries. But maybe more on global issues, especially in dealing with the pandemic, dealing with the economic consequences of this long public health crisis … There may be initially no traction, ”Manhit said.

Biden on Thursday (Manile time) predicted a U.S. election victory over President Donald Trump after pivotal victories in Michigan and Wisconsin, while the Republican incumbent sought to offset a narrow path to re-election with demands and demands for a recount.

The victories in those Midwestern states gave Biden, a former vice president who has spent five decades in public life, a critical boost in the race to garner 270 electoral votes in the state-by-state Electoral College necessary to win the White House.

Trump, who won both states in 2016, now has fewer options to secure a second four-year term. With the count still in progress, he falsely declared victory, accused the Democrats of trying to steal the election, and vowed to fight the states in court. – With a Reuters report