President Joe Biden will host the first-ever trilateral summit with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Both the Americans and Japanese support the Philippines in its territorial dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea.

Washington

President Joe Biden is set to host a historic trilateral summit, which will see the participation of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. This marks the first-ever meeting of its kind between the three nations. The focus of their discussions is expected to revolve around various issues of mutual interest.

One of the main topics on the agenda is the support from the United States and Japan for the Philippines in its ongoing territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea. This issue has been a long-standing point of contention, with significant implications for regional security and international maritime navigation.



Tensions with China to dominate US-Japan-Philippines summit

Philippine and Chinese Coast Guard vessels have been regularly outmaneuvering each other in the South China Sea over the past year. More recently, the Chinese have been firing water cannon, causing damage to supply boats of the Philippine Navy and injury to crew members. Analysts say the confrontation has pushed Philippine leaders to strengthen partnerships bilaterally, and now multilaterally with the United States and Japan. Japan and the Philippines are at the center of all the emerging geopolitical contestations in the Western Pacific. You have the East China Sea, the West Philippine Sea, and at the same time cross-strait relations. Leaders of the three countries are set to meet in Washington on April 11 for a summit that builds on recent engagements. Last June, their Coast Guards held drills in the South China Sea. And in a speech to the Philippine Congress, Japan's Prime Minister announced that the Philippines would be the first beneficiary of a Japanese security assistance program. Furthermore, we concluded with President Marcos to start formal negotiations for a reciprocal access agreement between Philippines and Japan forces. Since then, Japan has moved further away from its longstanding pacifist policy. The Japanese Cabinet recently approved the export of next-generation fighter jets. China has denounced what it calls U.S. interference in the region. The U.S. has traveled halfway around the world to China's doorsteps to form exclusive circles, flex muscles and make provocations. These are out-and-out hegemonic activities. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi embarked on his own charm offensive last month with a visit to New Zealand and Australia, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attended the Summit for Democracy in South Korea and reaffirmed U.S. defense commitment in Manila. China has warned the Philippines against manipulation by the U.S., but President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. insists the Philippines isn't making itself a pawn. He says he's building alliances with like-minded countries to advance a shared interest for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Barna below, Al Jazeera, Manila.

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