The Philippine president has said the cooperation agreement between the Philippines, the United States and Japan will change the South China Sea and the balance of power in the region, seeking to ensure that China is not a target.
“I think the trilateral agreement is very important,” Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said at a press conference in Washington on Friday, a day after meeting with President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in the first trilateral summit. he said.
“It’s going to change the dynamics, dynamics that we see in this region, in ASEAN within Asia, around the South China Sea,” Marcos said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The three leaders expressed “grave concern” over China’s “dangerous and aggressive actions” in the South China Sea, where there are various maritime disputes between China and other countries and is a pipeline for more than $3 trillion in annual shipping trade. expressed.
Still, Marcos said the summit was “not against any country” and focused on deepening economic and security ties between Manila, Washington and Tokyo.
China claims almost all of the South China Sea, despite a 2016 ruling by an international tribunal that Beijing’s wide-ranging claims have no legal basis.
Philippine and Chinese vessels have been involved in a spate of collisions over the past month, including the use of water cannons and violent altercations.
The Chinese government on Thursday summoned the Manila ambassador and Japanese embassy staff to criticize what the Foreign Ministry described as “negative comments” against China.
The deepening conflict between China and the Philippines coincides with increased security engagement with the United States under the Marcos administration, including expanded US access to Philippine bases, and Japan’s plans to sign a reciprocal military agreement with Manila. It also agrees with
Mr. Biden has asked Congress for an additional $128 million to build infrastructure for bases in the Philippines.
Mr. Marcos also expressed confidence that the summit would result in an investment deal worth about $100 billion over the next five to 10 years.
While in Washington, Marcos also met with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and pledged continued U.S. support. “This entire collaboration is critical to our collective security and continued prosperity across the region,” Austin said, reiterating Biden’s commitment to a strong national defense.
