U.S. President Joe Biden met virtually with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday to enhance trilateral maritime security and economic cooperation, the White House announced.
The leaders discussed China’s “dangerous and unlawful behavior” in the South China Sea, a key trade route for over $3 trillion in annual commerce. They emphasized the importance of continued coordination to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific amid growing regional tensions.
This meeting follows an April trilateral summit in Washington and comes just days before Biden hands over the presidency to Donald Trump on Jan. 20. The U.S. has strengthened security ties with the Philippines under Marcos, securing expanded access to Philippine bases.
Despite growing concerns over regional stability, the White House statement did not mention Japan’s concerns regarding Biden’s recent decision to block Nippon Steel’s acquisition of U.S. Steel due to national security reasons. Japan’s foreign ministry noted that Ishiba urged Biden to address business community concerns, stressing the need for allied cooperation to secure resilient supply chains.
