Blinken hails 'strong' US-Philippine alliance in talks with Marcos

Blinken meeting Marcos Jr at the Malacanang Palace in Manila on Aug 6, 2022. - AFP

MANILA (AFP): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Saturday (Aug 6) in a bid to bolster the countries' "strong" alliance, as China conducts military drills around nearby Taiwan.

Blinken is the most senior US official to visit the South-East Asian nation -- a treaty-bound ally of the United States -- since Marcos took office on June 30.