MANILA, Reuters – The Philippine President-elect Ferdinand Marcos met in Manila with a senior U.S. official on Thursday. This was a sign of efforts to maintain an alliance that has been strained by Rodrigo Duterte’s hostility toward Washington and his love for Beijing.

The Philippines serves as a pivot of geopolitical tension between China and the United States. The Philippines is a member of the United States’ defense alliance, but their relations were shaken by Duterte’s recent visits to China.

Analysts see Marcos more favorable to Beijing than Washington. However, he stated last month that he would defend his sovereign territory and resist Chinese invasions, making one of the strongest statements yet about foreign policy.

Although diplomatic ties are improving, China and Philippines continue to clash over claims for overlapping territories in the South China Sea. The strategic waterway is a vital conduit through which trade flows worth about $3 trillion annually.

Many countries, including the United States, have expressed concern about China’s assertiveness within the region.

The U.S. Embassy at Manila stated that Wendy Sherman, the Deputy Secretary to State of the United States, met Marcos and discussed the region’s security and rule of law.

Sherman spoke on Twitter: “We discussed strengthening and maintaining our longstanding alliance. We also explored ways to expand people-to-people relationships, strengthen our economic relationship and advance human rights. It was important that we preserve a free Indo-Pacific.”

Marcos will take office June 30. He described the relationship between the Philippines and America as “very important” and special.

His relations with it have been complicated by a contempt of Court order for him refusing to co-operate the District Court of Hawaii. The District Court of Hawaii ordered Marcos’ family to compensate $2 billion in plundered wealth victims of his father’s rule. Imelda Marcos is also facing a $353 million fine.

Marcos hasn’t been to the United States in 15 years.

While the U.S. Embassy Manila did not address Marcos’ specific case, it stated that: “Under international legal, a sitting chief of state is granted comprehensive immunity against foreign jurisdiction.  The president is exempt from U.S. jurisdiction when he travels in the United States.