In an attempt to demonstrate that the three countries are united in opposing China’s military assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific, President Joe Biden is hosting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House on Thursday. The three leaders have met for the first time in a trilateral meeting.
As a follow-up to last year’s law enforcement exercises conducted by the allies in waters close to the disputed South China Sea, the leaders are anticipated to declare that their coast guards will conduct a joint patrol in the Indo-Pacific this year.
During the patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard will also welcome coast guard members from the Philippines and Japan on a U.S. Coast Guard vessel, according to senior Biden administration officials who insisted on remaining anonymous to preview the discussions.
A diplomatic honor that was intended to recognize Tokyo’s growing clout on the global stage, the summit takes place a day after President Biden met with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Kishida through one-on-one meetings and celebrated the Japanese premier with a lavish state dinner at the White House.
It was also intended to send a strong signal that the Democratic administration is still intent to developing what it refers to as a “latticework” of alliances in the Indo-Pacific region. despite the fact that it is currently dealing with the conflict between Israel and Hamas and Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
A reflection on that Japan, which was once a bitter enemy of the United States, has become one of the closest American allies and a vital friend in a joint effort to achieve peace, security, and prosperity in the Pacific and beyond was made by President Joe Biden on Wednesday.
At the White House, where a pompous arrival ceremony was taking place, President Joe Biden made the following statement: “Just a few generations ago, our two nations were locked in a devastating conflict.”
“It would have been easy to say we remain adversaries. Instead, we made a far better choice: We became the closest of friends.”
Administration officials stated that a number of significant American corporations, such as Meta, UPS, and Greenbrier Energy, had announced investments in the Philippines, adding a significant economic element to Thursday’s three-way summit.
The latest agreements follow Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo’s announcement last month in Manila of almost $1 billion in fresh American corporate investment in the Philippines.
…………. The main topic of discussion for the leaders’ meeting will be China’s provocative actions in the Pacific, which administration officials have recognized is causing all three countries to become increasingly concerned.