(MENAFN) In order to show support for Manila and other Southeast Asian allies in their territorial disputes with China, United States Vice President Kamala Harris visited the Philippines.

After visiting the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum in Thailand, Harris landed in Manila on Sunday night and was greeted with a red carpet welcome. She is due to travel to the Palawan island chain, which is close to the South China Sea conflict, on Tuesday after meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday to discuss enhancing security and commercial relations.

Harris is going to visit Palawan as the highest-ranking United States official to have ever done so. Her visit represents the administration of President Joe Biden's latest attempt to counter Beijing's territorial claims in the Spratly region, where China has dredged the ocean floor to build fictitious islands with airstrips and missile launchers.

The Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei all assert territorial claims to portions of the Spratly Islands. In the South China Sea, which hosts significant oil and natural gas resources in addition to an estimated USD5 trillion in annual maritime activity, Washington has also pushed to enforce freedom of navigation.

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