Chinese Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, U.S. President Joe Biden, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos held the first trilateral summit meeting at the White House in Washington on April 11, local time. The three leaders pledged to work together to maintain order in the Indo-Pacific region. The leaders of the three countries proposed cooperation in a wide range of fields, including security and the economy. The three countries unanimously agreed to expand joint maritime training between the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. and Philippine militaries. A joint statement was issued after the talks.
The US-Japan-Philippines summit issued a joint statement
At the beginning of the talks, Kishida said, "In order to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law, it is important to develop multi-level cooperation with allied countries and like-minded countries." ”。 "The United States is steadfast in its defense of Japan and the Philippines," Biden stressed. Marcos said the three countries "share a shared vision for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific."
Biden said any attack on Philippine ships in the South China Sea would trigger a mutual defense treaty. "The U.S. defense commitment to Japan and the Philippines is unbreakable," Biden said. The "mutual defense treaty" he referred to was the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty signed by the United States and the Philippines in 1951. Under the treaty, the United States will support and assist the Philippines in the event of an external armed attack, including by providing military assistance and defense.
Kishida delivered a speech at the U.S. Congress emphasizing the maintenance of international order
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivered a speech at a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives of the US Congress on the morning of the 11th, pointing out that the international order is facing new challenges and stressing that Japan and the United States are "responsible" for world peace and prosperity. Fumio Kishida said that today's Ukraine may be tomorrow's East Asia, and without the presence of the United States, how long will the Indo-Pacific region face a harsher reality than Ukraine? He also said that the United States must continue to play a leading role in international affairs.
Delivering a speech to the U.S. Congress is a special courtesy to foreign leaders. In 2023, there are speeches by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kishida is the second Japanese prime minister to deliver a speech here after then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2015. He spoke in English and gave a talk entitled "Future-Oriented – Our Global Partnership".
Kishida made it clear that Japan will maintain a strong alliance and an enduring friendship. Japan "is with the United States as its closest friend." He also referred to the Kishida administration's policies such as raising defense spending to 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) and having counterattack capabilities (the ability to attack enemy bases), emphasizing that "it has taken the lead in taking a series of measures to strengthen the Japan-US alliance." As prime minister from Hiroshima, the site of the nuclear bombing, Kishida also mentioned his efforts to realize a "world free of nuclear weapons."
Kishida also cited Japan-U.S. cooperation with South Korea, Australia, India, the Philippines and other countries, noting that the U.S.-Japan alliance plays a role in strengthening the strength of a multi-layered regional framework.
In addition to the joint statement, the two sides also released an 18-page information document listing 70 cooperation agreements reached by the United States and Japan, including cooperation in defense, space, economic security, artificial intelligence (AI), fusion energy, disaster relief, etc., many of which are in the defense field, and there is also support for the construction of high-speed rail in Texas.
Chinese Foreign Ministry: US-Japan relations should not be directed against other countries
U.S. President Joe Biden held a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington on April 10, during which the two sides reached cooperation in military and other fields, and also discussed the territorial issues of Taiwan, the South China Sea and the Diaoyu Islands. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded at a press conference on April 11 that China strongly disagrees with and resolutely opposes this and has lodged solemn representations with relevant parties.
Mao Ning stressed that US-Japan relations should not be aimed at other countries or harm their interests, and should not undermine regional peace and stability. China resolutely opposes the Cold War mentality and the practice of engaging in small-group politics, and resolutely opposes words and deeds that create and intensify contradictions and undermine the strategic security and interests of other countries.
Mao Ning stressed that the Taiwan issue is purely China's internal affair and brooks no interference by any external forces, and pointed out that China has indisputable sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and its adjacent waters, and China is willing to continue to properly handle maritime issues with relevant parties through dialogue and consultation to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.
She also pointed out that China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests brook no infringement, and that China's determination to safeguard its legitimate rights is unwavering.
The Chinese Embassy in Japan made solemn representations to Japan
The Japan-US summit issued a joint statement on April 10, which made many references to China-related issues, including criticizing China's "dangerous and escalating moves" in the South China Sea and reiterating the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese Embassy in Japan criticized on the 11th that the Japanese side ignored China's repeated persuasions and insisted on manipulating China-related issues in the Japan-US summit and joint statement, seriously interfering in China's internal affairs and harming China's interests.
The embassy spokesman pointed out that Japan and the United States have greatly strengthened their military alliance and exaggerated bloc confrontation, which will raise the risk of conflict and threaten regional peace and stability. The Chinese side strongly deplores and resolutely opposes the relevant move of the Japanese side, which violates the principles of the four Sino-Japanese political documents and violates international law and basic norms governing international relations, and has lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side. +6 The Taiwan issue is purely China's internal affair, and the proposition on the South China Sea issue has a basis
The spokesman stressed that Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands are China's inherent territory, and no matter what Japan and the United States say or do, they cannot change the objective fact that Diaoyu Dao belongs to China. The Taiwan issue is purely China's internal affair and brooks no external interference, and the Japanese side should abide by its commitments and be cautious in its words and deeds.
China's position on the East China Sea and the South China Sea has sufficient historical and legal basis. Japan is not a party to the South China Sea issue and should stop stirring up trouble by inciting confrontation. It must be emphasized that the Japan-US alliance, as a product of the Cold War, should not be aimed at any third party, let alone harm the interests of a third party. The practice of forming "small circles" in the field of military security is completely contrary to the trend of the times and will only lead to fire in the end.
China solemnly urges the Japanese side to respect China's core interests and major concerns, earnestly implement the important consensus on comprehensively advancing a mutually beneficial strategic relationship, and stop beggar-thy-neighbor, interfering in China's internal affairs and harming China's interests, so as to avoid further damage to China-Japan relations.