According to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who urged China to be assured that a cooperation agreement between the Philippines, the United States, and Japan will alter the relationship in the South China Sea and the region on Friday ( 12 April ).
A moment after holding a press conference in Washington with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Joe Biden, Marcos stated,” I think the multilateral arrangement is extremely important.”
” It is going to transform the energetic, the fluid that we see in the region, in ASEAN in Asia, around the South China Sea”, Marcos said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The three frontrunners expressed” major problems” about China’s “dangerous and violent behavior” in the South China Sea, which is a hub for more than US$ 3 trillion in ship-borne trade and numerous sea disputes between China and other nations.
However, Marcos said the mountain was” no against any state” but had focused on deepening economic and security ties among Manila, Washington and Tokyo.
China asserts nearly the whole South China Sea despite a 2016 decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration finding that Beijing’s expansive says had no constitutional basis.
In the past month, there have been a number of run-ins between Philippine and Chinese ships, including cooked verbal exchanges and the use of water cannons.
Beijing summoned Manila’s embassy to the nation on Thursday and a representative from the Chinese ambassador to protest what its foreign ministry called “negative feedback” against China.
The growing China-Philippines conflict coincides with an increase in security ties with the US under Marcos, including increased US exposure to Philippine foundations, as well as with Japan, which is expected to sign a mutual army alliance with Manila.
Biden has requested further US$ 128 million from Congress for Asian base infrastructure projects.
Marcos even expressed confidence that potential US$ 100 billion investment agreements will be realized within the next five to ten years following the mountain.
While in Washington, Marcos even met with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who assured him of continued US help.
” This whole participation is vital to our social security and continued success across the area”, Austin said, reiterating Biden’s robust defence commitment.