The US, Japan and the Philippines will begin joint naval patrols in the South China Sea later this year, particularly emphasising the Collective Show of Maritime Power against China.
The US, Japan and the Philippines are set to conduct joint naval patrols in the South China Sea later this year to counter China in the region, according to US officials.
Next month, Washington will host a trilateral summit attended by President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to address the growing tension in the South China Sea. The trilateral summit, to be held on 11 April, is seen as key to strengthening efforts to counter China’s regional influence.
The joint naval patrols will be the strongest statement of the Biden administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy to rally allies and partners to offset China’s growing economic, diplomatic and military presence in the region. Fears are growing in Washington that clashes between Beijing and Manila could lead to open conflict.
The Biden administration has repeatedly made the statement that the US-Philippine Mutual Defence Treaty obliges the US to intervene if Philippine forces come under armed attack.
In recent times, the situation in the South China Sea has become increasingly tense. The US and the Philippines have previously conducted joint patrols, but this is the first time Japan’s navy will join them. The National Security Council, the defence ministry and the Japanese embassy in Washington declined to comment. The Philippine Embassy did not respond to a request for comment.
Earlier, the Chinese side urged the US not to interfere in the Philippines-China issues. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday that China “will continue to take resolute steps to safeguard its territorial interests.”
