“It is very unfortunate that [China] has continued to use coercive tactics,” one of the US officials said. “We do see that, every time it does, an increasing number of supporters come out to stand behind international law in the Philippines.”
“The last time there was an interdiction of a Philippine routine resupply effort, as many as over two dozen countries came out with vociferous support.”
Thursday’s Japan-US-Philippines trilateral summit is designed to further underscore US and Japanese encouragement for the Southeast Asian nation that has often found itself on the front lines of regional tension because of its position between the western Pacific’s first and second island chains.
“Freedom of the seas isn’t an abstraction for a country like the Philippines, with over 7,500 islands,” said Daniel Russel of the Asia Society Policy Institute and a former State Department official.
US-Japan summit yields 70 deals, pledge to continue China dialogue
US-Japan summit yields 70 deals, pledge to continue China dialogue
Not only did Biden reiterate US alliance commitments to the Philippines “which are crystal clear” but it clearly voiced US concern about Chinese actions around the Second Thomas Shoal, area claimed by Manila that has seen repeated Chinese muscle flexing, she added.
And the US is inviting Marcos to the White House for bilateral and trilateral talks for the first time ever, she said.
“This is very clearly a purposeful signal of support and resolve to Marcos,” the senior official added. “This is an invitation to the president from the president to a close ally. That is intended to signal very clearly that we support the Philippines at this difficult moment.”
The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on recent maritime activity, the summit or trilateral pact.
On Thursday, Washington and Tokyo were also expected to unveil several Philippine-focused initiatives related to energy security, connectivity, military modernisation, pre-positioning of disaster relief aid and foreign investment in the economy.
Activists slam Sino-US rivalry in Philippines’ maritime zone in South China Sea
Activists slam Sino-US rivalry in Philippines’ maritime zone in South China Sea
“The US, Japan and the Philippines are three closely aligned maritime democracies with increasingly convergent strategic objectives and interests,” said National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. “This week is a culmination of months of effort.”
Although the first trip Marcos took on gaining power two years ago was to Beijing, where he was warmly received, he shifted gears soon after entering office, engaging in a policy of what some call “radical transparency”.
“Whereas the previous president was seen as much more soft on China and critical of the United States, Marcos brought in the media and publicised incidents that were already increasing in their intensity and sharpness,” said Sarang Shidore of the Quincy Institute, a Washington-based think tank.
“He sort of brought focus on the dispute in a way that wasn’t there in the previous six years,” Shidore said.
Singapore, Philippines, Japan, Thailand should all join Nato, ex-chief says
Singapore, Philippines, Japan, Thailand should all join Nato, ex-chief says
“I think the consensus is that that’s probably a bridge too far. And it’s not at all clear that our Asian allies and partners would sign on to an Asian Nato,” said Mike Mochizuki of George Washington University.
“I think American policymakers understand that, moving towards some kind of Nato collective defence pact, is unrealistic.”
Asian views of China were decidedly mixed, Shidore added.
“All the states, including the Philippines and others, are very much tied to what has emerged as an Asian-economic complex that has been in many ways highly successful in the last 30 or 40 years,” he said.
“And that’s not something states want to entirely threaten.”