First Trilateral Summit of the US, Japan, and the Philippines... Biden Pledges "Ironclad" Alliance Defense

Biden, "A New Era of Partnership"
"Mutual Defense Treaty Will Be Invoked If China Attacks the Philippines"
"Indo-Pacific Investment Plan 'Luzon Corridor' to Be Announced"

On the 11th (local time), the United States, Japan, and the Philippines held their first trilateral summit in Washington D.C., agreeing on security cooperation including measures to counter China.

U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos held the trilateral summit at the White House that afternoon. Before the meeting, President Biden stated, "This meeting has opened a new era for the tripartite partnership," emphasizing that "the United States' defense commitment to its allies Japan and the Philippines is ironclad."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Biden also warned China, which is militarily pressuring the Philippines over territorial claims in the South China Sea, saying, "Any attack on Philippine aircraft, vessels, or forces in the South China Sea will trigger our mutual defense treaty." A senior Biden administration official cited by the Associated Press said that this year, the three countries' maritime coast guards plan to conduct joint patrols in the Indo-Pacific region.

Prime Minister Kishida stated, "In an international community facing complex crises, to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law, we must make multifaceted efforts together with like-minded countries," adding, "I hope to further strengthen trilateral cooperation to achieve peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region."

President Marcos described the meeting as "a historic encounter among three countries connected by democracy, good governance, and respect for the rule of law," calling the three nations "friends and partners sharing a vision to pursue a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific." He added, "We will seek ways to grow the economy and develop resilient cities and societies to prepare for climate change."

With this, the United States has established a trilateral framework with Japan and the Philippines, following last August’s first Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral summit held at Camp David. Along with existing security frameworks such as AUKUS (the U.S., U.K., and Australia security partnership) and the Quad (the U.S., Japan, Australia, and India security partnership), a latticework of China containment is being formed.

Meanwhile, the trilateral summit is expected to unveil an Indo-Pacific regional investment project plan aimed at countering China’s Belt and Road Initiative. A senior official said that a concept regarding the "Global Infrastructure Partnership (PGI) Luzon Corridor," which promotes major infrastructure investments including ports, railways, clean energy, and semiconductor supply chains connecting Subic Bay, Clark, Manila, and Batangas in the Philippines, will be announced.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.