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US President Joe Biden, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Washington
CNN
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President Joe Biden said Thursday that the United States’ commitment to the defense of Japan and the Philippines remains “ironclad” amid separate territorial disputes with China.
The comments came a day after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s official visit, and as Biden welcomed Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the White House and hosted the first-ever trilateral summit.
“When we come together, we can build a better future for everyone,” Biden said Thursday in the East Room of the White House.
Japan and the Philippines both have separate territorial disputes with China, the former over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, and the latter over the waters of the South China Sea.
Tensions between the Philippines and China are centered on the Second Thomas Reef, located about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the coast of the Philippine island of Palawan. In the 1990s, the Philippines moored a dilapidated World War II-era naval transport in the shallows to stake its claim to the area. The ship is now mostly a rusted wreck, manned by rotating Philippine Marines.
Meanwhile, China claims the shoal, which lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, as its sovereign territory, along with much of the South China Sea, in defiance of international arbitration awards. The most recent clash occurred when a Chinese Coast Guard ship fired water cannons at a Philippine supply ship as the Philippines tried to resupply the ship, injuring a Filipino sailor and damaging the ship. did.
Referring to tensions between the Philippines and China, Biden said Thursday that “if there is an attack on Philippine aircraft, ships or troops in the South China Sea, the Mutual Defense Treaty will be invoked.”
The 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines, the oldest U.S. agreement in the Asia-Pacific region, stipulates that each side will assist in the defense of the other if either is attacked by a third party. .
Thursday’s meeting marks the administration’s latest attempt to address this type of Chinese aggression, with senior administration officials saying ahead of the meeting that the White House is very concerned about China’s actions in the South China Sea.
“This is a clear demonstration of support and commitment from both President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida. We stand shoulder to shoulder with Mr. Marcos and stand ready to support and cooperate with the Philippines at every turn,” an official said Thursday. He said this prior to the meeting. .
Marcos said on Thursday that the Philippines, Japan and the United States “meet today as friends and partners united in our shared vision of pursuing a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”
Marcos added that the three countries are “bound by a deep respect for democracy, good governance and the rule of law.”
The talks come as the region faces North Korea’s nuclear provocations and growing ties with Russia, as well as uncertainty over China’s aggressive posture toward Taiwan and the South China Sea, concerns that could draw regional allies closer to the United States. It was held in the midst of
Japan is seeking support from Biden in the Indo-Pacific, with officials viewing Kishida, who has made major changes in Japan’s defense posture in recent years and provided continued support to Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion, as a willing partner. It is central to his alliance building efforts. Prime Minister Kishida has pledged to increase defense spending by 2% of GDP by 2037 and has acquired U.S. Tomahawk missiles to increase its counterattack capabilities.
Mr. Biden welcomed Mr. Marcos to the White House last year and signaled his intention to rebuild strong ties with Manila, which had suffered a rift under former President Rodrigo Duterte, who sought closer ties with China.
During his visit, Biden said he would “continue to support the modernization goals of the Philippine military,” adding that the two countries “not only share a strong partnership, but also a deep friendship that has been deepened by millions of people.” “I’m sharing it,” he vowed. The number of Filipino Americans in communities across the United States. ”
The highlight of Thursday’s meeting was several announcements aimed at strengthening the Philippines amid these conflicts.
A senior administration official also said the White House will announce new infrastructure projects in the Philippines on Thursday. CNN reported earlier this week that one of the announcements was the development of a new rail and transportation corridor between Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base in the Philippines, a move intended to send a clear message to the Chinese government. Reported.
Biden briefly mentioned economic corridors Thursday, saying, “This means more jobs for people across the region.” “This means further investment in areas critical to our future, including clean energy, ports, rail and agriculture.”
The White House is also expected to strengthen the Philippine military’s capabilities with new infrastructure investments similar to those announced by the US in India ahead of the G20.
In the days leading up to the summit, the United States, Japan and the Philippines, along with Australia, conducted maritime military exercises near the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) after a Philippine vessel claimed to have been “harassed” by Chinese ships in the South China Sea. carried out. .
The official added that the White House also plans to announce “open radio access network technology” and that both Japan and the United States will provide millions of dollars in funding.
Officials also said they would announce Coast Guard patrols to be conducted in the Indo-Pacific “next year.”
This article and heading have been updated with additional developments.
CNN’s Brad Lendon, Arlette Saenz and Kayla Tausche contributed to this report.
