
23 Nov 2020 04:21PM CNA
MANILA: President Donald Trump’s administration provided precision-guided missiles and other weapons to help the Philippines battle Islamic State group-aligned militants and renewed the United States’ pledge to defend its treaty ally if it comes under attack in the disputed South China Sea.
National security adviser Robert O’Brien represented Trump in Monday’s (Nov 23) ceremony at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, where he announced the delivery of the cache of missiles and bombs to the Philippine military.
Trump pledged to provide the US$18 million worth of missiles in a phone conversation with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in April.

How Biden will confront China
The presidents who came just before Donald Trump took a mostly hopeful view of China. Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and the two George Bushes all tried to integrate China into the global economy and political system. Doing so, they believed, could persuade China to accept international rules and become more democratic.
The strategy 

National security adviser Robert O’Brien speaks to the media outside the White House in Washington, U.S., November 17, 2020. Photo by Reuters/Leah Millis.




