US Pres. Joe Biden on Thursday reasserted America's "ironclad" commitment to defending the Philippines in the South China Sea.

The White House

According to a White House statement, US Pres. Joe Biden has "reinforced" America's "ironclad" commitment to defending the Philippines in the South China Sea within a meeting with the country's President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

US Pres. Joe Biden on Thursday reasserted America's "ironclad" commitment to defending the Philippines in the South China Sea, as he met with his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Pres. Joe Biden reasserted America's "ironclad" commitment to defending the Philippines in the South China Sea on Thursday as he met with his Philippine counterpart, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Under their 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, the US is bound to defend the Southeast Asian nation if Philippine forces, vessels, or aircraft ever come under an armed attack in the Pacific.

U.S. Department of Defense

The meeting between the two comes as the US began hosting the first ever trilateral summit with the Philippines and Japan on Thursday, which also sees Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visit Washington.

In a joint leadership statement, the three stated "serious concerns" over China's "dangerous and aggressive behavior" in the South China Sea, while reaffirming a "final and legally binding" 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling determining the Second Thomas Shoal to sit within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

Biden hosted Marcos and Japan's Fumio Kishida on Thursday for a first-ever trilateral summit amid mounting tensions with China in the Indo-Pacific, including incidents between the Philippines' and China's coast guards near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.

This meeting comes as the US hosted the first ever trilateral summit with the Philippines and Japan on Thursday amid mounting tensions with China in the Indo-Pacific, including incidents between the Philippine and Chinese coast guards.

This meeting comes as Biden hosted Marcos and Japan's Fumio Kishida on Thursday for a first-ever trilateral summit as concerns grow over alleged China provocations, including incidents between the Philippine and Chinese coast guards near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.

Biden hosted his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and Japan's Fumio Kishida on Thursday for a first-ever trilateral summit amid mounting tensions with China in the Indo-Pacific, including incidents between the Philippines' and China's coast guards near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.

This meeting comes as Biden hosted Marcos and Japan's Fumio Kishida on Thursday for a first-ever trilateral summit amid mounting tensions with China in the Indo-Pacific, including incidents between the Philippine and Chinese coast guards near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.

Pres. Marcos Jr. accused Beijing of "highly dangerous manoeuvres" near the Second Thomas Shoal days before the summit. Pres. Biden reaffirmed that "any attack" on Philippine aircraft, vessels, or military personnel in the South China Sea would trigger the US' mutual defense treaty signed between the two countries in 1951.

The three leaders expressed "serious concerns" over China's "dangerous and aggressive behavior" in the South China Sea, and urged Beijing to abide by the "legally binding" 2016 arbitration ruling that determined the shoal lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

RAPPLER

The three leaders committed to increased trilateral naval exercises and coast guard cooperation, humanitarian and disaster relief training, and the launch of the Luzon Economic Corridor under the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment amongst other agreements.

The Japan Times

They also agreed to ramp up joint naval exercises and coast guard cooperation, as well as to launch the Luzon Economic Corridor — the first infrastructure project in the region under the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment.

They also agreed to ramp up joint naval exercises and increased coast guard cooperation, as well as to launch the Luzon Economic Corridor — the first infrastructure project in the region under the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment.

In response, a spokesperson for Beijing's Foreign Ministry claimed that China's actions were completely in accordance with international law, adding that "firm measures" would be taken against to protect China's sovereignty.

Fmprc

In response, a spokesperson for Beijing's Foreign Ministry claimed that Chinese actions were completely in accordance with international law, adding that "firm measures" would be taken against to protect China's sovereignty.

In response to the summit, China Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning claimed that Beijing's actions in the South China Sea were "in full compliance with international law," and that the country would "take firm measures" against "illegal moves that violate China's sovereignty."

U.S. Department of Defense #

RAPPLER #

The Japan Times #

Fmprc #

The trilateral summit has sent a clear message to China that the Indo-Pacific will not allow Beijing to walk all over its neighbors. While prior hostilities against Japan will always remain a fact of history, a growth in relations by the three is both of strategic advantage as well as ethical necessity to counter Chinese malpractice. With the help of two of the world's three largest economies, the Philippines can finally take a stand against continued Chinese aggression.

INQUIRER.net

INQUIRER.net #

Bataan’s fall and the rise of a trilateral alliance

By siding with the US, the Philippines has chosen to throw away historical ties to its brothers in China – tricked by the fickle promises of a self-serving international power that seeks to use the country as a vessel for American interests. By following America's path, the Philippines has merely increased its chances of being placed in harm's way as part of the West's wider game to undermine China's prosperity.

Global Times

Global Times #

GT exclusive: Former Philippine president Duterte warns Manila to turn back from detrimental path, resolve disputes through dialogue

There is an 18% chance that there will be an armed conflict between the Philippines and China causing at last 100 deaths before 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Metaculus2

100 deaths from China-Philippines conflict

The US-China Conflict

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images via Getty Images

Biden Pledges to Defend Philippines in South China Sea

China

Japan

Philippines

United States of America

This trilateral summit has sent a clear message to China that it can't walk all over its neighbors. A growth in relations by the three countires is a strategic advantage, as well as a necessity to counter Chinese malpractice. With the help of two of the world's three largest economies, the Philippines can finally take a stand against continued Chinese aggression.

Tricked by the fickle promises of a self-serving power that's seeking to use it as a vessel for American interests, the Philippines has decided to side with the US despite its historical ties to China. By following America's path, the Philippines has increased its chances of being placed in harm's way as part of the West's wider game to undermine China's prosperity.

There's an 18% chance that there will be an armed conflict between the Philippines and China causing at least 100 deaths before Jan. 1, 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Biden Pledges to Defend Philippines in South China Sea

Biden Pledges to Defend Philippines in South China Sea

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Biden Pledges to Defend Philippines in South China Sea

Biden Pledges to Defend Philippines in South China Sea

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