Japan, Philippines, US Deepen Ties to Address Actions in South China Sea

manila - Japan, the Philippines, and the United States have agreed to strengthen their ties in response to the increasing tensions in the South China Sea.

Japan, the Philippines, and the United States have agreed to deepen their ties in light of the escalating tensions in the South China Sea, according to a statement from the office of Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. after a virtual meeting with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The three countries agreed to enhance and deepen their economic, maritime, and technological cooperation.

During the meeting, Biden commended the Filipino leader for his diplomatic response to China's aggressive and coercive activities in the South China Sea. Both Japan and the Philippines are embroiled in separate territorial disputes with China in the East and South China Seas.

Since the 1940s, China has had conflicts with countries in the South China Sea as it claims virtually all waters and islands of the sea up to the island of Borneo. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in 2016 that the Chinese claims have no legal basis.