Biden vows to defend the Philippines if it launches an “attack”… in a clear warning to China
US President Joe Biden confirmed yesterday (Thursday) that an attack on an aircraft, ship or Philippine armed forces in the South China Sea would trigger the implementation of the mutual defense agreement that binds Washington and Manila. Beijing.
The US president issued the warning against a backdrop of China's series of incidents in this highly sensitive maritime region, along with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who were invited to an unprecedented trilateral summit at the White House.
“America's commitment to the defense of Japan and the Philippines is unwavering,” President Biden said.
Later on Thursday, the United States, Japan and the Philippines condemned Beijing's “dangerous and aggressive behavior” in the South China Sea, in a joint statement issued at the end of an unprecedented summit between the three leaders in Washington. For Agence France-Presse.
The US president, his Philippine counterpart and the Japanese prime minister said: “We express our deep concern over the dangerous and aggressive behavior of the People's Republic of China in the South China Sea.”
Yesterday (Thursday), at the White House, Biden held an unprecedented summit with the leaders of Japan and the Philippines, a show of support for Manila, whose relations with China have seen severe tensions, while Beijing said it was a “smear”. Propaganda from its enemies.
Biden's trilateral summit with Kishida and Marcos follows repeated clashes between Beijing and Manila's ships in the disputed South China Sea.
China claims sovereignty over almost the entire waters of the South China Sea, ignoring the claims of other countries in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines.
“President Marcos is under pressure as a result of the aggressive tactics of the People's Republic of China,” a senior Chinese administration official told the press, using China's official name.
He added: “You will see a clear display of support and commitment from both President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida. “We stand shoulder to shoulder with Marcos.”
The Japanese prime minister arrived in Washington this week on a state visit, during which he and Biden on Wednesday unveiled a historic update on their security relationship.
In a speech before Congress on Thursday, Kishida urged Americans to overcome “self-doubts” about their country's role as a global power.
Japan, stripped of its right to build up its military after World War II, has warned of the dangers of China's rise, saying it is determined to do more to share responsibility with its ally the United States.
The US, Japan and the Philippines are expected to announce new joint naval exercises with Australia during the trilateral summit, similar to exercises in the region over the weekend.
The three leaders are set to unveil new measures for economic cooperation.
US President Biden, 81, and Philippine President Marcos, 66, considered closer to Washington than his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, held separate talks on Thursday.
The US has a mutual defense agreement with Manila and has repeatedly declared its “firm” commitment to defend the Philippines against any armed attack in the South China Sea.
In recent months, tensions between China and the Philippines, which assert their territorial claims, have reached their highest level in years.
The reason is that since late 2023 there have been a series of incidents near disputed reefs in the South China Sea.
Last month, there were two collisions between Chinese and Philippine ships near Thomas II Island, which China calls “Rinai”.
A second senior official said the U.S. president's commitment was “clear,” and he “repeatedly stated that the mutual defense agreement between the United States and the Philippines applies to the South China Sea and Philippine ships sailing in it, including Coast Guard vessels . . .”
The trilateral summit comes within the framework of Biden's efforts to forge alliances with like-minded countries and in a region that both Beijing and Washington consider a geopolitical backyard.
Last year, Biden held an unprecedented trilateral summit with the leaders of Japan and South Korea at his home in Camp David.
Biden moved to manage tensions with China, holding a two-hour phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week following a face-to-face meeting in San Francisco in November.
On Wednesday, Biden said the major announcement about military cooperation with Japan was “purely defensive” and “not specifically targeting any country or posing a threat to the region.”
