Washington — U.S. President Joe Biden hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House on Thursday, aiming to send China a clear message that it must halt its aggressive behavior in the South China Sea. "United States defense commitments to Japan and to the Philippines are ironclad," Biden said at the trilateral summit. There has been rising tension between Manila and Beijing. In recent weeks, Chinese Coast Guard ships have taken provocative actions to block resupply missions for Philippine soldiers stationed on the Second Thomas Shoal, who guard Manila's sovereignty claims over the Spratly Islands. "Facing the complex challenges of our time requires concerted efforts on everyone's part, a dedication to a common purpose and an unwavering commitment to the rules-based international order," Marcos said, couching his words in diplomatic terms often used to target Beijing. "Multilayered cooperation between allies and like-minded countries is essential if we are to maintain and bolster a free and open international order based on the rule of law," Kishida reiterated. |
Caitlin Clark revs up Pacers fans with pregame playoff appearance in IndyCar replicaKane scores twice in Bundesliga but injuries hit Bayern, Dortmund before Champions League semisWorld's largest Peppa Pig outdoor theme park to open in ShanghaiSouth Africa will mark 30 years of freedom amid inequality, poverty and a tense election aheadBaltimore bridge collapse: Loved ones await recovery of 2 bodies from wreckage3 children in minivan hurt when it rolled down hill, into baseball dugout wall in IllinoisDodgers extend winning streak to 6 as Tyler Glasnow gets first career victory against Blue JaysSimbine upstages Coleman and Kerley to win 100A strong magnitude 6.1 earthquake shakes Indonesia's Java Island, felt in JakartaPSG fails to win the French league after drawing with struggling Le Havre