US, Japanese, Philippine leaders discussed China’s behavior in South China Sea, White House says By Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday met nearly along with his counterparts from Japan and the Philippines to advance cooperation among the many three nations, the White Home mentioned.

The three leaders mentioned trilateral maritime safety and financial cooperation, and China’s “harmful and illegal conduct within the South China Sea,” it mentioned in an announcement.

“The three leaders agreed on the significance of continued coordination to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Biden spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. late on Sunday, per week earlier than Biden leaves workplace and fingers energy to President-elect Donald Trump on Jan. 20.

Manila mentioned the three nations, which met for a trilateral summit in Washington in April, agreed to additional strengthen their ties within the face of rising tensions in regional waters.

The South China Sea, a conduit for greater than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, has been suffering from rising tensions for years. China claims nearly your entire South China Sea regardless of a 2016 ruling by the Everlasting Courtroom of Arbitration discovered Beijing’s sweeping claims had no authorized foundation.

The U.S. has elevated its safety engagements with the Philippines underneath Marcos, securing expanded entry to Philippine bases.

The White Home assertion made no point out of any dialogue about Nippon Metal’s deliberate acquisition of U.S. Metal, which Biden blocked on Jan. 3 citing nationwide safety considerations.

Japan’s international ministry mentioned Ishiba requested Biden to allay considerations within the Japanese and U.S. enterprise communities over the choice, noting that cooperation amongst allies and like-minded nations was indispensable for establishing resilient provide chains.

The White Home had no speedy touch upon the reported dialogue.