US, Japan, and Philippines to Hold a ‘Trilateral Consultative Meeting’

The United States and Japan are set to launch a consultative summit with the Philippines.

The Associated Press and others reported that President Joe Biden of the United States has invited Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to the White House on the 18th (local time). After the tripartite meeting, President Biden is scheduled to hold a separate bilateral meeting with President Marcos.

The White House stated, “It will be a time to reaffirm the ironclad alliance between the United States and the Philippines and between the United States and Japan.” They added, “The three leaders plan to strengthen their trilateral relationship based on their shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific and their deep historical friendship.”

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The three countries appear to have joined forces to restrain China. Japan is currently in conflict with China over maritime sovereignty in the East China Sea, while the Philippines is undergoing conflict in the South China Sea for the same reason. With the help of these two countries, the United States aims to complete a tight network of containment against China.

In particular, the conflict between the Philippines and China has recently escalated. On the 5th, a collision occurred near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea between a Philippine ship and a Chinese coast guard vessel. Four Filipino sailors were injured by the Chinese coast guard’s water cannon, and the ship was severely damaged.

In December last year, a similar incident took place. The Philippines summoned the Chinese ambassador to protest, and China, in turn, pressured the Philippines, claiming their action to be “sovereign infringement.” Both countries have escalated their military tensions since January of this year by reinforcing troops in the respective areas.

The Spratly Islands, where this shoal is located, belong to the Philippines according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. However, China denies this and claims sovereignty over 90% of the South China Sea, including these islands.