MANILA. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Thursday that he intends to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss various issues, including immigration policies that could affect the large Filipino community in the United States.
“We will see how we can influence policymaking in terms of immigration,” Marcos stated, without specifying a date for the meeting.
Since taking office on Jan. 20, Trump has issued several executive orders on immigration, focusing on stricter border controls, enhanced visa vetting, and intensified measures against undocumented migrants. The Migration Policy Institute estimates that there are over 300,000 undocumented Filipinos in the U.S. as of 2019. Meanwhile, a 2024 report by the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that nearly two million Filipino migrants reside in the United States.
Aside from immigration, Marcos also addressed geopolitical concerns, particularly regarding China’s activities in the South China Sea. He stated that the Philippines would be open to returning the U.S.-deployed Typhon missile system if China ceases its “aggressive and coercive behavior.”
“I don’t understand the comments on the Typhon missile system. We don’t make any comments on their missile systems, and their missile systems are a thousand times more powerful than what we have,” Marcos remarked.
He further challenged China, saying, “Let’s make a deal with China: stop claiming our territory, stop harassing our fishermen and let them have a living, stop ramming our boats, stop water cannoning our people, stop firing lasers at us, and stop your aggressive and coercive behavior, and I’ll return the Typhon missiles.”
Tensions between China and the Philippines have escalated in recent years, with Manila strengthening its alliance with Washington. The United States has also expressed its commitment to counter China’s increasing assertiveness in the contested waterway. China has strongly opposed the deployment of the Typhon missile system for U.S.-Philippines military exercises, repeatedly calling for its withdrawal.
The Chinese embassy in Manila has not yet responded to a request for comment on Marcos’ statements.
The Typhon missile system was initially deployed in the Philippines in April last year during the Balikatan (“shoulder-to-shoulder”) military exercises with U.S. forces. It has since remained in the country. Last week, Reuters reported that the missile launchers were moved to an undisclosed location in the Philippines.
The dispute over the South China Sea remains a major point of contention. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China’s claims over the waterway had no legal basis, siding with the Philippines. While China has rejected the ruling, Washington has reaffirmed its support, emphasizing that the decision is binding.
As Marcos prepares for his meeting with Trump, immigration and regional security are expected to be key agenda points, potentially shaping future diplomatic engagements between the Philippines, the U.S., and China.
Carlo Juancho FuntanillaFrontend Developer, WordPress, Shopify
Contributing Editor
AMA ACLC San Pablo
- Carlo Juancho Funtanillahttps://tutubi.ph/author/carlojpf/
- Carlo Juancho Funtanillahttps://tutubi.ph/author/carlojpf/
- Carlo Juancho Funtanillahttps://tutubi.ph/author/carlojpf/
- Carlo Juancho Funtanillahttps://tutubi.ph/author/carlojpf/
