White House Expresses Deep Concern Over China's South China Sea Activities Ahead of Crucial Trilateral Summit

The White House is expressing worry about China's activities in the South China Sea, according to a senior official in the administration. President Joe Biden is getting ready to strengthen ties with two Asian allies during a significant meeting on Thursday.

Biden is scheduled to hold the inaugural summit with the leaders of the US, Japan, and Philippines. He will be meeting with Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House, following the official visit of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Both Japan and the Philippines have separate territorial disputes with China. Japan's dispute involves the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, while the Philippines' dispute pertains to areas in the South China Sea.

The tensions between the Philippines and China have primarily centered around Second Thomas Shoal, located approximately 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the coast of the Philippine island of Palawan. In the 1990s, the Philippines intentionally grounded an aging navy transport ship from World War II on the shoal to reinforce their claim to the area. Today, the ship remains mostly as a rusted wreckage and is manned by Filipino marines who are stationed there on rotation.

China claims the shoal in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone as its own territory, despite international rulings. Recent clashes have occurred when Philippine resupply boats were met with aggression from China Coast Guard ships, causing injuries and damage.

Thursday's meeting is the administration's latest effort to address Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. The three leaders will have private discussions on this matter.

Ahead of Thursday's meeting, one official expressed that President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida will demonstrate strong support and determination to stand by Marcos and work closely with the Philippines.

The meeting is taking place amidst the region's concerns over China's aggressive actions towards Taiwan and the South China Sea, as well as North Korea's nuclear provocations and its growing ties with Russia. These issues have brought regional allies closer to the United States.

Japan has played a key role in Biden’s efforts to strengthen alliances in the Indo-Pacific region. Prime Minister Kishida has shown a strong commitment to enhancing Japan's defense capabilities, including increasing defense spending and acquiring American Tomahawk missiles. Additionally, Japan has provided support to Ukraine during Russia's invasion.

Biden welcomed Marcos to the White House last year, signaling a desire to rebuild a strong relationship with Manila. This move aimed to repair strained ties that occurred during former President Rodrigo Duterte's administration, which leaned towards closer relations with China. The US and the Philippines have a mutual defense treaty dating back to 1951, which states that both countries will come to each other's defense in case of an attack by a third party.

During the visit, Biden assured the Philippines military of ongoing support for their modernization goals. He emphasized the strong partnership and deep friendship between the two nations, which has been strengthened by millions of Filipino Americans living across the United States.

One of the key points discussed during Thursday's meeting is the expected announcements aimed at enhancing the Philippines' capabilities in the face of tensions with China.

A new infrastructure project in the Philippines will be announced by the White House on Thursday, according to a senior administration official. Earlier this week, a CNN reporter revealed that one of the announcements will involve the development of a new rail and shipping corridor between Philippines’s Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base. This move is intended to send a clear message to Beijing.

Additionally, the White House is expected to enhance the Filipino military’s capability through a new infrastructure investment, similar to what the US recently announced in India leading up to the G20 summit.

In preparation for the summit, the US, Japan, and Philippines, along with Australia, held maritime military exercises near the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This came after Philippine vessels reported feeling harassed by Chinese ships in the South China Sea.

Additionally, the senior official mentioned that the White House will be making announcements regarding "Open Radio Access Network technology." Both the US and Japan will be contributing millions of dollars in funding for this initiative.

Officials have also mentioned that there will be a Coast Guard patrol in the Indo-Pacific region in the near future.

This report was contributed to by CNN’s Brad Lendon, Arlette Saenz, and Kayla Tausche.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the growing tensions in the South China Sea due to China's aggressive actions. The upcoming summit between the US, Japan, and the Philippines reflects the Biden administration's commitment to strengthening alliances in the region and addressing Chinese aggression. The meeting will focus on enhancing the Philippines' capabilities through infrastructure projects and military support.

The article also emphasizes the importance of Japan's role in Biden's Indo-Pacific strategy. Prime Minister Kishida's commitment to defense capabilities and support for Ukraine further solidifies Japan's position as a key ally in countering China's influence. The expected announcements on infrastructure development and military enhancements send a clear message to Beijing that the US and its allies are determined to maintain stability in the region.