PH, US, Japan commit to free, prosperous Indo-Pacific

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Philippines, the United States, and Japan on Thursday committed to a free, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific, as leaders of the three countries met to discuss strengthening their ties moving forward.

During the Trilateral Leaders’ Summit at the White House, US President Joe Biden said the meeting of the three countries would center on deepening ties, and writing the story of the future together.

“As you’ve heard me say before, a great deal of history in our world will be written in the Indo-Pacific over the coming years as the three allies, three steadfast partners, and three steadfast democracies representing half a billion people,” Biden said.

“Today we commit to writing that story of a future together — to building Indo-Pacific that is free, open, prosperous, and secure for all,” he added.

Biden cited areas of deepening ties such as technology and clean energy, including securing the semiconductor chain and expanding trusted telecommunications in the Philippines, along with building a clean energy workforce.

He also announced the launching of an economic corridor — dubbed as the PGI Luzon corridor — which he said would translate to more employment opportunities across the region, and more investment in a sector “critical” to the future.

Biden also noted the strengthening of maritime and security ties among the three countries, as he cited treaties the United States has with both the Philippines and Japan.

“I want to be clear. The United States’ defense commitments to Japan and the Philippines are ironclad. They’re ironclad. As I said before, any attack on Philippine aircraft vessels or armed forces in the South China Sea will invoke our mutual defense treaty,” he said.

Just last week, the naval and air forces of the three countries, along with Australia conducted a multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) in the West Philippine Sea, in line with their commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation.

The China Coast Guard on March 23 water cannoned a Philippine resupply ship en route to the Ayungin Shoal, causing heavy damage and hurting three sailors. It was on a mission to provide supplies to the decrepit Navy vessel the BRP Sierra Madre that had been aground in the country’s outpost in the area. —NB, GMA Integrated News