During a virtual meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., US President Joe Biden discussed promoting cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, the White House press service reported. The parties also referred to China.
"The three leaders discussed maritime security and economic cooperation, as well as the illegal practices of the People's Republic of China in the South China Sea," the message said.
The document states that the interlocutors pointed out "the importance of continuing to coordinate actions aimed at keeping the Indo-Pacific region free and open." In turn, the Kyodo news agency, citing the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, writes that Ishiba emphasized the importance of cooperation between allies and partners during the conversation. to create reliable supply chains and attract investment to countries.
Ishiba described the security situation around Japan as increasingly "complicated and difficult." Kyodo recalled that Chinese ships regularly pass by the Senkaku Islands (Chinese name: Diaoyu Dao) in the East China Sea, which are controlled by Tokyo and shared with China. are the subject of a territorial dispute.
The Philippines also has a territorial dispute with China over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
