The US president said that “any attack against an aircraft, ship or members of the Philippine armed forces in the South China Sea would trigger the activation of the mutual defense treaty” signed by Washington and Manila.
Earlier, the three leaders denounced what they accused of China’s “dangerous and aggressive behavior” in the South China Sea in a joint statement released by the White House, particularly its “militarization” of areas and “illegal claims” to maritime areas. in this zone of strategic importance.
Joe Biden welcomed Ferdinand Marcos and Fumio Kishida against the background of a series of incidents in the maritime area where tension has been rising in recent years.
“The US commitment to the security of Japan and the Philippines is unwavering,” the Democratic president, 81, said.
He referred to the common goal of the Asia-Pacific region being “free, open, prosperous and secure,” in standard American terminology, which he contrasted with China’s plans as dangerous and aggressive.
Beijing has not yet reacted to these statements and the joint statement.
Already, Chinese diplomacy had strongly reacted to Wednesday’s announcement to strengthen military cooperation between the US and Japan.
“The US and Japan, disregarding China’s serious concerns, have slandered and attacked China on Taiwan and maritime issues,” Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for China’s foreign ministry, said during a regular briefing of accredited editors.
The American president gave Fumio Kishida the day before Wednesday an impressive reception, in the prelude to the tripartite meeting yesterday with the participation of Ferdinand Marcos, the namesake son of the former dictator of the Philippines, who was elected to the presidency in June 2022.
The “biggest strategic challenge”
In his brief remarks to reporters present, the Philippine head of state praised the “historic” summit, adding that it “gives us the opportunity to define the future we want and the way to achieve it together.”
China’s military actions are an “unprecedented challenge”, the “biggest strategic challenge, not only to the peace and security of Japan, but also to the peace and security of the entire international community”, Japan’s prime minister said earlier yesterday in the US Congress.
In recent months, tensions between China and the Philippines, which are increasingly asserting their own territorial claims, have reached levels unmatched in decades.
A series of incidents have been recorded since late 2023 near claimed reefs in the South China Sea.
Last month there were two collisions between Chinese and Philippine ships near the atoll of Second Thomas, or Ren’ai, as China calls it.
In this context, Joe Biden announced that the US, the Philippines and Japan will “deepen” their ties in terms of “maritime security”.
He also promised to promote much closer economic and technological cooperation, especially in infrastructure development in the Philippines.
Joe Biden is trying to forge close alliances in the Asia-Pacific region to counter Chinese strategic ambitions.
Last year he hosted, that time at the presidential summer residence Camp David, an unprecedented tripartite summit with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Seok-gil.
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