U.S. President Joe Biden hosted a trilateral summit at the White House on April 11 with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The summit focused on addressing China's increasing pressure on Manila in the disputed South China Sea.
The leaders expressed serious concerns about China's dangerous and aggressive behavior in the South China Sea, including the militarization of reclaimed features and unlawful maritime claims. They affirmed their commitment to upholding international law and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
The Philippines and China have had several maritime run-ins in recent months, including the use of water cannon and heated verbal exchanges. The disputes center on the Second Thomas Shoal, home to a small number of Filipino troops stationed on a warship that Manila grounded there in 1999 to reinforce its sovereignty claims.
Biden affirmed that the U.S. would respond to an armed attack on the Philippines in the South China Sea under a 1950s era mutual defense treaty. Marcos has successfully pushed Washington to resolve longstanding ambiguity over the treaty by specifying that it would apply to disputes in that sea.
The three countries announced plans for trilateral coast guard exercises in the Indo-Pacific region and a dialogue to enhance future cooperation. They also unveiled a wide range of agreements to enhance economic ties, including backing new infrastructure in the Philippines.