White House to host first-ever US-Philippines-Japan summit to counter China
- US President Joe Biden’s press secretary confirmed the April 11 meeting to advance a ‘partnership built on deep historical ties of friendship’
- Japan invaded the Philippines, a former US colony, during World War II. Beijing recently accused Washington of using Manila as a ‘pawn’ in disputes
“The leaders will advance a trilateral partnership built on deep historical ties of friendship” including a “shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday local time.
Biden will later hold a separate bilateral meeting with Marcos to “reaffirm the ironclad alliance” with the Philippines, she said.
Kishida will be at the White House for a state visit the day before, which had already been announced.
Japan believes the talks will boost a “free and open international order based on the rules of law,” chief government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said.
“With the Japan-US alliance as the linchpin, we believe that deepening cooperation with like-minded countries like the Philippines in a wide range of areas will be essential to maintaining the peace and prosperity of this region,” he told reporters.