MANILA — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has announced that he plans to meet with former U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss important issues, including immigration. Marcos wants to talk about how immigration policies in the United States affect many Filipinos living there.
“We will see how we can influence policymaking in terms of immigration,” Marcos said. However, he did not specify exactly when the meeting would take place.
Why This Meeting Matters
Since taking office on January 20, Trump has introduced many new immigration rules. These changes include stricter border controls, more difficult visa processes, and tougher actions against people living in the U.S. without proper documents.
For Filipinos, this is a big deal. According to a 2019 report by the Migration Policy Institute, there are over 300,000 undocumented Filipinos in the U.S. In total, around 2 million Filipinos live in the U.S., as per the 2024 U.S. Census Bureau report. Marcos wants to ensure these Filipinos are treated fairly under the new policies.
Marcos on the Dispute with China
Aside from immigration, Marcos also talked about the ongoing dispute between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea. He said that if China stops its aggressive actions, he is willing to return the Typhon missile system that the U.S. stationed in the Philippines.
Tensions between China and the Philippines have been rising because China continues to claim parts of the South China Sea that legally belong to the Philippines. China has also been accused of harassing Filipino fishermen, using water cannons against Philippine boats, and even firing lasers at them.
“Let’s make a deal with China: Stop taking our territory, stop harassing our fishermen, stop ramming our boats, stop using water cannons, and stop using lasers on us. If you do that, I will return the Typhon missiles,” Marcos stated firmly.
What Is the Typhon Missile System?
The Typhon missile system is a U.S. weapon that was first brought to the Philippines in April last year. It was supposed to be used for joint military exercises between the U.S. and the Philippines, but it has remained in the country ever since. China is strongly against the presence of this missile system and has asked for it to be removed.
China claims that most of the South China Sea belongs to them, but in 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China’s claim has no legal basis. The ruling supported the Philippines, but China refuses to accept it. The U.S. supports this ruling and believes it should be followed.
What Happens Next?
It is unclear when Marcos and Trump will have their meeting or what the final outcome will be. However, this discussion could be important for Filipinos living in the U.S. and for the ongoing situation in the South China Sea.
The Chinese embassy in Manila has not yet responded to Marcos’ latest remarks.