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China, Japan spar over former’s actions in Indo-Pacific

The Bluebook reportedly criticises China’s actions in the South China Sea and its efforts to alter the status quo in the East and South China Sea…reports Asian Lite News

China is challenging Japan’s recent evaluation of the threat posed to the Indo-Pacific region by Beijing, dismissing it as a hyped-up threat and a false accusation, Voice of America reported.

According to Japanese media reports and the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s annual Diplomatic Bluebook (an annual report on Japan’s foreign policy and international diplomacy published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan), released on Tuesday, China’s military activities are described as the “greatest strategic challenge.”

However, an official English version of the report has not been made public, as per Voice of America.

The Bluebook reportedly criticises China’s actions in the South China Sea and its efforts to alter the status quo in the East and South China Sea.

Following this, Japanese media says that for the first time since 2019, Japan seeks to build “a mutually beneficial relationship” with China “based on common strategic interests.”

According to Voice of America, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian rebuffed Japan’s criticisms during a news briefing on Tuesday. Lin stated, “Japan has resorted to the same old false accusations against China and hype of the ‘China threat’ in its 2024 Diplomatic Bluebook.”

Further, he affirmed, “We urge Japan to change its wrong course of action, stop stoking bloc confrontation, truly commit itself to advancing a strategic relationship of mutual benefit with China and work to build a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship fit for the new era.”

Director of the Japan Programme at the Washington-based Stimson Centre, Yuki Tatsumi, said, “Japan’s concerns about Chinese behaviour, both military and paramilitary, have been intensified for the last few years due to the acceleration of Beijing’s aggressive behaviour in the East and South China Sea.”

“In addition, Tokyo has been put on alert about Beijing’s increasingly hostile and aggressive rhetoric and behaviour towards Taiwan.” she added.

According to a Thursday report by The Japan Times citing unnamed Japanese officials., Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin could meet in early May in Hawaii.

According to the report, Kihara and Austin would discuss setting up a proposed allied command and control structure and a body to identify the kinds of weapons the two countries will develop and produce together.

These plans were announced on April 10 at a bilateral summit in Washington.

The Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) announced on Tuesday that it will conduct a naval deployment including six surface ships, submarines, and two air units starting May 3 to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The deployment includes visits to more than a dozen countries, including the U.S., the Philippines, India, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, the Marshall Islands, Fiji and Palau. It is meant “to strengthen cooperation with the allied partner navies through conducting exercises,” said JMSDF.

Daniel Sneider, lecturer in international policy and East Asia Studies at Stanford University, said even as Tokyo is building its defences and is concerned about Beijing’s assertiveness and especially its relations with Moscow, its mention in the Diplomatic Bluebook of wanting to build relations with Beijing reflects Tokyo’s balanced approach towards China.

“The Bluebook reflects a balance between, on one hand, some degree of warning the Chinese off doing things that disrupt the order” in the region “and, on the other hand, making it clear that Japan really is not interested in some type of full-scale confrontation with China,” including economic warfare, said Sneider.

As to China, it tends to see “any attempts on the part of the Koreans and the Japanese to engage and improve relations as a sign of weakness,” continued Sneider.

China, Japan and South Korea plan to hold trilateral talks in May for the first time since 2019. They will meet in Seoul ahead of a Washington-Seoul-Tokyo trilateral summit expected in July. (ANI)

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US, Japan, Philippines, rebuke China over South China Sea moves

Beijing has stepped up its activities in the strategic waterway in recent years, and tensions have risen…reports Asian Lite News

The leaders of Japan, the Philippines and the United States have voiced “serious concern” over China’s actions in the disputed South China Sea.

Beijing has stepped up its activities in the strategic waterway in recent years, and tensions have risen, particularly with the Philippines, one of several Southeast Asian countries that claim the parts of the sea around their coastlines.

Last month, Philippines’s President Ferdinand Marcos said Manila would take countermeasures against China after a confrontation off Second Thomas Shoal injured Filipino soldiers and damaged vessels.

“We express our serious concerns about the People’s Republic of China’s [PRC] dangerous and aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea,” the three leaders said in a joint statement at the end of a first-ever summit between the three countries, which took place in Washington, DC.

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea under its so-called nine-dash line, which was rejected by an international court in 2016.

As well as the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam also claim parts of the sea.

The statement noted the “importance of respecting the sovereign rights of states within their exclusive economic zones [EEZ] consistent with international law, as reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea [UNCLOS]”.

It also reiterated the three states’ opposition to China’s “dangerous and coercive use of Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels in the South China Sea”.

Second Thomas Shoal, known as Ayungin in the Philippines, has been the site of multiple standoffs between Beijing and Manila in recent months, with China’s coastguard using water cannon against ships trying to resupply a contingent of Filipino sailors living on board the deliberately grounded Sierra Madre.

The shoal lies about 200 kilometres (124 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan, placing it within the Philippines’s EEZ, according to UNCLOS. It lies more than 1,000km (621 miles) from China’s southern Hainan island.

The US has a mutual defence treaty with the Philippines and has repeatedly made clear that it would protect its ally if its forces came under attack anywhere in the South China Sea.

Following a meeting with top diplomats on Friday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Washington’s commitment to that treaty was “ironclad”.

“We’re working in lockstep … to strengthen interoperability between our forces, to expand our operational coordination and to stand up to coercion in the South China Sea,” he said.

Meanwhile, Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo accused China of an “escalation of its harassment”.

He said he hoped the US meeting would help Washington and Manila better coordinate their diplomatic and defence responses.

“We are determined to assert our sovereign rights, especially within our economic — exclusive economic zone,” Manalo said.

Earlier on Friday, China summoned Japanese and Philippine diplomats in the country to express what it described as strong dissatisfaction over negative comments made during Thursday’s trilateral summit in the US.

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Beijing slams US-Japan-Philippines summit, defends SCS actions

China, which claims most of the South China Sea, rebuffed the trilateral summit, accusing the participating countries of manipulating bloc politics…reports Asian Lite News

Beijing responded critically on Friday to a trilateral meeting hosted by US President Joe Biden, which included Japan and the Philippines, addressing concerns over Beijing’s actions in the South China Sea. Biden’s pledge to defend the Philippines from any attack in the region sparked tension amid repeated confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels. The joint statement issued by the US, Japan, and the Philippines voiced serious concern over Beijing’s behavior, labeling it as dangerous and aggressive.

China, which claims most of the South China Sea, rebuffed the trilateral summit, accusing the participating countries of manipulating bloc politics and engaging in behavior detrimental to regional stability. Beijing emphasized its opposition to closed cliques excluding others in the region and criticized Japan and the Philippines for trilateral cooperation that allegedly undermines Chinese interests.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning defended China’s actions in the East and South China Seas as lawful and appropriate, dismissing criticisms as baseless attacks. Meanwhile, Biden assured Japan and the Philippines of the US’ ironclad defense commitments, emphasizing the importance of their alliance in maintaining peace and democracy in the Asia-Pacific region.

During the historic meeting, the leaders underscored their commitment to the rules-based international order, implicitly contrasting their alliance with China’s actions. Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida highlighted the significance of multi-layered cooperation, emphasizing the meeting’s historical significance. Biden also held separate talks with Marcos, indicating a continued effort to strengthen ties between the US and its allies in the region.

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Biden hosts Kishida, in strong message to China  

Over 70 items covering a wide array of critical sectors are expected to be announced as part of the bilateral meeting between the two leaders…reports Asian Lite News

President Joe Biden on Wednesday hosted Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio for a state visit and held a crucial Oval Office meeting, reinforcing his commitment to bolstering the vital partnership in the Indo-Pacific amid a militarily and economically resurgent China.

Over 70 items covering a wide array of critical sectors are expected to be announced as part of the bilateral meeting between Biden and Kishida, according to senior administration officials.

These include a commitment to changing the US force structure in Japan to improve how Japanese and US forces are integrated, establish a ‘military-industrial council’ to evaluate where the two countries can co-produce defence weapons to improve cooperation, and items related to integrating anti-missile defence between the US, Australia and Japan, according to officials.

The announcements are all part of a major update to the nation’s military alliance but elements of them will take some time to implement, including the change to the US force structure, which will take several months for both countries to work through, a senior official noted, according to CNN.

Speaking on the White House, South Lawns, on Wednesday morning, Biden touched on the “monumental alliance between our two great democracies.”

“Together, we made it closer, stronger and more effective than ever before in history,” Biden said at an official arrival ceremony.

He also recognised Japan’s gift of 3,000 cherry trees more than 100 years ago as a symbol of that alliance, blooming each spring in Washington, DC. Japan has committed to planting 250 new trees along the Tidal Basin to honour the US’s 250th birthday in 2026.

Biden acknowledged the ‘devastating’ history between the US and Japan. He travelled to Hiroshima last year for a summit with G7 leaders and toured the Hiroshima Peace Museum, which chronicles the vast destruction of the US atomic bomb in the city in 1945, in the closing days of World War II.

It would have been easy for the two countries to remain adversaries given their bloody history, Biden noted.

“Instead,” he said, “we made a far better choice: We became the closest of friends.”

“Today”, Biden added, “Our democracies are beacons of freedom shining across the globe.”

The leaders are also expected to detail space collaboration at a time when Japan has signalled an interest in landing its first astronaut on the Moon and lay out ways to increase people-to-people ties amid lagging student exchanges between the two countries in recent years. The astronaut would be the first non-American to set foot on the moon.

Some of these partnerships include a joint artificial intelligence research initiative between Carnegie Mellon University and Keio University in Tokyo, as well as another AI-related exchange between the University of Washington and Washington State and Tsukuba University in Japan, according to the officials. This will also include creating a scholarship to fund high school students from the US to travel to Japan to study and vice versa.

But even as the US and Japan are bolstering their cooperation across a range of sectors, the two countries have seen a recent difference on the economic front with the president opposing Japan’s efforts to purchase US Steel.

Responding during a joint news conference to a question about the acquisition of the company– at one point one of the most powerful companies in the world–by Japan-based Nippon Steel, Kishida described the USD 14.1 billion acquisition as an ‘investment’ in the United States.

“We hope these discussions will unfold in directions that would be positive for both sides,” Kishida said. However, he did not directly address whether the two leaders discussed the acquisition during a private meeting held earlier in the day.

Biden, who previously said it was ‘vital’ that the company remain American-owned and operated, said during the press conference–the first he’s held in 2024–that he stands by “my commitment to American workers”.

The meeting between Biden and Kishida will be followed later this week by the first-ever leaders’ summit between the US, Japan and the Philippines with Biden working to draw Pacific allies and partners closer as the region grapples with China’s aggression and nuclear provocations from North Korea.

Kishida said during the news conference that Japan will continue to call on China to “fulfil its responsibilities as a major power”, while also striving to establish a ‘constructive and stable’ relationship with the superpower.

“We confirmed that unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion is absolutely unacceptable wherever it may be,” he added.

All of the deliverables on the agenda are part of a concerted military, diplomatic and strategic effort to try and ‘flip the script’ and counter Chinese efforts to isolate American allies such as the Philippines and Japan, according to the senior administration official.

“The idea of switching to a multilateral, lattice-like strategic architecture is to flip the script and isolate China,” the official added.

Further Japan has been at the centre of Biden’s alliance building in the Indo-Pacific, as officials have seen a willing partner in Kishida, who has significantly shifted the country’s defence posture in recent years and provided ongoing support to Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (ANI)

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Biden to host landmark trilateral meet

President will host Japanese PM and Philippines President in a White House summit set to bolster trilateral maritime cooperation in the South China Sea…reports Asian Lite News

President Joe Biden will host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in a White House summit set to bolster trilateral maritime cooperation in the South China Sea, a major move to counter Beijing.

The first-of-its-kind gathering by the United States and its two Asian allies is set for Thursday. It’s part of Biden’s strategy to stitch together existing bilateral alliances into broader “mini-laterals” to amplify U.S. influence in Asia.

The U.S.-Japan-Philippines trilateral focuses on freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. Last year, Biden hosted a similar meeting with Japan and South Korea to deal with the threat from North Korea.

Manila is keen to firm up trilateral maritime cooperation, namely plans for joint naval patrols by the three countries, a move that would likely trigger a strong reaction from Beijing.

“Joint patrols are something that we’ve already discussed extensively with Japan and the United States,” Philippines Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez told reporters in a briefing last week. “And I think that we’re hoping that this will come into fruition very soon.”

The White House declined to confirm such plans, reiterating only that the leaders would have much to discuss in their meeting.

“Certainly, the tensions in the South China Sea are not going away,” said national security spokesperson John Kirby in response to a question during a White House briefing Thursday. “That was an issue that was raised in the president’s call with President Xi just a couple of days ago.”

Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder also declined to confirm, telling VOA only that the goal of trilateral efforts in the South China Sea is to “ensure that the Indo-Pacific region remains free, it remains open and that there is security and stability throughout the region.”

However, an announcement on joint naval patrols is “widely expected” at the summit, said Gregory Polling, director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative. Following increased Philippine naval activities with regional partners including the United States, Japan and Australia, the trilateral naval patrol “is an obvious next step,” he said.

The meeting and expected announcement will come amid ramped-up tension in the South China Sea, where for weeks Chinese coast guard ships have deployed water cannons against Philippine vessels to block a resupply mission to the Second Thomas Shoal.

Since 1999, Philippine soldiers have guarded a wrecked ship left on the shoal to maintain the country’s sovereignty claims over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

The Philippines is a U.S. ally under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, which means skirmishes between Manila and Beijing in the Spratlys are a problem for Washington.

“While we’re focused on Taiwan for obvious reasons, conflict between the U.S. and China remains more likely in the South China Sea,” Polling told VOA. “The ceiling on that might be lower; we’re not going to escalate into a general war in the South China Sea. But a lower-level military conflict is uncomfortably possible.”

The South China Sea is a vital passageway for Japan’s global supply chains, a reaffirming factor for Tokyo as Washington draws it into a more robust military role in the region.

“There is tremendous expectation for Japan,” said Shihoko Goto, director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the Wilson Center.

Tokyo is “at the heart of regional security,” she said, considering its involvement in the two trilateral formations and in the quadrilateral strategic security dialogue among Australia, India, Japan and the United States, also known as the Quad.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sworn in as Philippines’ 17th President.(photo: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbidV2368058591112&set=pb.100044537672013.-2207520000 )

For Japan’s Kishida, the summit will be another chance to flex his country’s diplomatic muscles as it stands beside Washington, its strongest ally.

Kishida wants to showcase the transformation of Japan’s bilateral alliance with Washington that serves peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific to a “global partnership that stands as the cornerstone of international liberal order,” said Yuki Tatsumi, co-director of the East Asia Program and director of the Japan Program at the Stimson Center.

The key deliverables, she said, include plans for a modernized alliance command and control and plans for a consultative body for defense industrial cooperation.

Japan has been an anchor of various U.S. regional alliances and partnership in the region. Ahead of the summit, Tokyo and Manila are already in talks on a Reciprocal Access Agreement that would enhance shared military operations and training.

While many analysts applaud Biden on his strong and coordinated security approach for the region, they say Washington is lagging Beijing when it comes to building regional prosperity.

“We’re not seeing as much leadership on the economic front,” Goto said. “That will be something that there will be greater demand for.”

In previous meetings with Biden, Kishida reiterated Japan’s calls for Washington to join the 2018 Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

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Philippines, US, Japan and Australia to hold joint drills in SCS

Set to be held in the South China Sea, where Beijing asserts extensive territorial claims, the exercises signify a unified response to regional security challenges…reports Asian Lite News

The Philippines, the United States, Japan, and Australia, are all set to conduct joint naval drills, reflecting a broader strategy to strengthen military alliances and counterbalance China’s expanding influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Set to be held in the South China Sea, where Beijing asserts extensive territorial claims, the exercises signify a unified response to regional security challenges.

This collaborative effort comes just ahead of the inaugural trilateral summit involving US President Joe Biden, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, demonstrating a collective commitment to addressing shared concerns.

The significance of these drills lies not only in their timing but also in their symbolism. They serve as a visible manifestation of the growing cooperation among these nations and their resolve to uphold maritime security and stability.

While tensions in the region have escalated due to China’s assertiveness, particularly in disputed waters claimed by the Philippines, Japan, and others, this joint military exercise sends a clear message of deterrence and unity.

The Philippines’ strategic location and its status as a key ally of the United States in the region make it a focal point for regional security efforts. The visit of the Australian warship HMAS Warramunga to Palawan earlier in the week underscores the importance of enhancing military relations with partner nations.

These engagements not only bolster defense capabilities but also signal a commitment to upholding international norms and the rule of law in the face of growing challenges.

Furthermore, ongoing discussions between the Philippines and Japan regarding a defense pact that would enable troop deployments on each other’s territory highlight the evolving nature of security cooperation in the region.

With existing defense agreements in place with Australia and the United States, Manila is seeking to broaden its network of security partnerships to address emerging threats effectively.

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US-Japan security alliance upgrade worries China

The defence plans that are expected to be announced at a summit in April are being considered the biggest upgrade to the security alliance between Washington and Tokyo in decades….reports Asian Lite News

China has been raising objections to the US-Japan plans to upgrade their security alliance, saying it does not want to be a ‘target’ of the defence plans, Voice of America (VOA) reported.

The defence plans that are expected to be announced at a summit in April are being considered the biggest upgrade to the security alliance between Washington and Tokyo in decades.

“China always believes that military cooperation between states should be conducive to regional peace and stability, instead of targeting any third party or harming the interests of a third party,” Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said.

A US State Department spokesperson pushed back against Beijing’s concerns, emphasising the importance of the US-Japan alliance in the Indo-Pacific region.

“The US-Japan alliance has served as the cornerstone of peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and across the world for over seven decades and has never been stronger,” the spokesperson said.

On Tuesday, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met his Japanese counterpart, Akiba Takeo, at the White House to discuss “next steps to finalise key deliverables” that President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will announce during their April 10 meeting in Washington.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Monday that Tokyo was in discussion with Washington about strengthening the command and control of their militaries to enhance readiness.

Meanwhile, this discussion comes as Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral John Aquilino told the US House Armed Services Committee that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army is preparing to invade Taiwan by 2027, VOA reported.

“The time is long overdue to upgrade the command structure in Japan so that the US and Japanese militaries can operate together more seamlessly” in the region, Ralph Cossa, president emeritus and WSD-Handa chair in peace studies at the Pacific Forum, said.

James Schoff, senior director of the US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA, said, “This is probably the single most important step that the allies can take to enhance deterrence against regional threats and respond to any sort of major crisis.”

“This is especially true at this moment as Japan prepares to stand up its first joint operational command and introduces longer-range counterstrike capabilities,” he added.

Notably, Japan plans to set up a joint operations command by March 2025 to improve coordination among its air, ground and maritime Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). The updated command structure within US Forces Japan (USFJ) is expected to complement Japan’s establishment of its joint operations command, VOA reported.

Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi, senior non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Indo-Pacific Security Initiative in the Scowcroft Centre for Strategy and Security, said, “Although the details are yet to be determined, the plan is to enhance the USFJ’s authority within INDOPACOM [US Indo-Pacific Command].”

He added that the revised US military command “will also have greater institutional ability to communicate and coordinate with the JSDF.”

Currently, US Forces Japan has limited authority to conduct joint operations with Japan. The commander of USFJ needs to coordinate its operation with US Indo-Pacific Command, located in Hawaii, as reported by VOA.

Earlier on Tuesday, President Biden nominated Air Force Major General Stephen Jost as the new commander of USFJ and promoted him to Lieutenant General.

Schoff said that “the existing parallel chain of command would remain” in the US and Japanese militaries rather than “a single allied chain of command for both US and Japanese forces.”

However, the US Forces Japan will be unlike the South Korean-US Combined Forces Command led by a US general during wartime, according to VOA.

James Przystup, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and its Japan chair specialising in alliance management in the Indo-Pacific, said the upgrades in US military command in Japan “would serve to enhance US-Japan defence cooperation and deterrence in Northeast Asia, both with respect to North Korea and China.”

“As for what this might look like in practice, the US-ROK Combined Forces Command could be one model, but not necessarily the one [into which it] eventually evolves,” he added. (ANI)

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Biden to host trilateral summit with Japan, Philippines

Against the backdrop of China’s territorial assertions, the Biden administration considers deeper collaboration with the Philippines crucial for regional peace and stability…reports Asian Lite News

President Joe Biden will host a three-way summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos in Washington on April 11, as announced by the White House, as reported by Kyodo News.

This historic summit, the first of its kind involving the United States, Japan, and the Philippines, aims to bolster defence cooperation in response to China’s assertive actions in the South and East China Seas, as well as around Taiwan.

The summit will take place a day after Biden’s meeting with Kishida, who will also attend a state dinner in his honor hosted by the US president, as per Kyodo News.

To prepare for the leaders’ discussions, the three countries will hold a meeting of senior diplomats in Tokyo on Thursday, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

According to Kyodo News, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to have a working dinner with Marcos in Manila on Tuesday, according to the State Department.

White House spokesperson Karine Jean Pierre asserted in a statement, “the three leaders will “advance a trilateral partnership built on deep historical ties of friendship, robust and growing economic relations, a proud and resolute commitment to shared democratic values, and a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Noting that the summit will provide a great opportunity for Biden to reaffirm the United States’ “ironclad alliances” with Japan and the Philippines, she said the issues to be discussed will include security in the region and beyond, emerging technologies, supply chains and climate cooperation.

“President Biden will hold a separate meeting with President Marcos at the White House on the summit day,” she added.

Japan’s government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi highlighted the trilateral summit in Tokyo on Tuesday, which will take place on the same day as Kishida’s address to a joint session of the US Congress, the first by a Japanese leader since 2015.

“Japan will further strengthen its three-way partnership with the United States and the Philippines for an “international order based on the rule of law,” Hayashi stated in a regular press conference.

Against the backdrop of China’s territorial assertions, the Biden administration considers deeper collaboration with the Philippines crucial for regional peace and stability.

The alliance serves as a deterrent against Chinese aggression, particularly regarding Taiwan’s status.

While the Marcos administration seeks to avoid entanglement in the US-China rivalry, it aims to diverge from its predecessor’s approach by maintaining Manila’s security alliance with Washington.

Both Japan and the Philippines confront security challenges posed by China’s territorial claims in their vicinity.

Last year’s June, trilateral meeting between the US, Japan, and the Philippines marked a significant step in enhancing regional security cooperation.

About a month before the meeting, Biden agreed with Marcos at the White House to establish “trilateral modes of cooperation” with Japan.

The two presidents also agreed at the time on new bilateral defence guidelines aimed at improving the interoperability of their land, sea, air and cyberspace forces. (ANI)

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Japan to Join Maritime Corridor Initiative

The initiative was launched on Tuesday, mainly led by Cyprus, the United States and the United Arab Emirates….reports Asian Lite News

Japan will join a maritime corridor initiative to deliver aid supplies to Gaza by sea from the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa has said.

The Japanese government plans to coordinate promptly with other related countries to deliver food, medical and hygiene supplies through the maritime corridor.

The initiative was launched on Tuesday, mainly led by Cyprus, the United States and the United Arab Emirates.

At a press conference, Kamikawa pointed out that the maritime corridor can avoid constraints at borders in ground transportation. “We will work promptly on the matter,” she said.

The UAE had announced the arrival of the first ship carrying 200 tonnes of food and relief supplies to the Gaza Strip. The aid was delivered via a maritime corridor launched from Larnaca Port in Cyprus to Gaza in collaboration between the UAE, World Central Kitchen (WCK), and the Republic of Cyprus.

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Biden opposes plan to sell US Steel to Japanese firm

By opposing the merger, Biden has chosen to support unionized workers in a critical election year at the risk of upsetting the business community and an essential ally in Japan…reports Asian Lite News

President Joe Biden came out in opposition to the planned sale of US Steel to Nippon Steel of Japan, saying on Thursday that the US needs to “maintain strong American steel companies powered by American steel workers.”

In a statement, Biden added: “US Steel has been an iconic American steel company for more than a century, and it is vital for it to remain an American steel company that is domestically owned and operated.”

By opposing the merger, Biden has chosen to support unionized workers in a critical election year at the risk of upsetting the business community and an essential ally in Japan. Thursday’s announcement, coming as Biden is campaigning in the Midwest, could have ripples in his race against the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump.

The Democratic president has made the restoration of American manufacturing a cornerstone of his agenda as he seeks reelection, and he has the endorsements of the AFL-CIO and several other prominent unions. The White House said Thursday that Biden called David McCall, president of United Steelworkers, to reiterate his support for its members.

Nippon Steel announced in December that it planned to buy the Pittsburgh-based steel producer for $14.1 billion in cash, raising concerns about what the transaction could mean for unionized workers, supply chains and US national security.

The Japanese company reiterated Friday how the deal benefits US Steel, union workers, the American steel industry and national security.

“Nippon Steel will advance American priorities by driving greater quality and competitiveness for customers in the critical industries that rely on American steel while strengthening American supply chains and economic defenses against China,” it said in a statement out of Tokyo.

“No other US steel company on its own can meet this challenge while also meeting antitrust requirements,” it said, stressing it already employs 4,000 American workers.

The company has also committed to keeping the US Steel name and Pittsburgh headquarters.

The company, which is the world’s fourth largest steel producer, launched a website with supportive statements from Larry Summers, the former treasury secretary, and Pat Toomey, a Republican and former senator from Pennsylvania.

Shortly after the steel deal was announced, the White House indicated it would be under review by the secretive Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. The government does not officially provide updates on the CFIUS review process.

Biden has a big megaphone to weigh in on the matter, but he is not intervening in the review process or formally blocking the deal, according to a person familiar with deliberations who insisted on anonymity to discuss the situation.

When asked about the deal on Thursday, White House national security spokesman John Kirby declined to say if the president wanted to stop it outright or would be amendable to changes in its structure. But Kirby told reporters that the United States sees its alliance with Japan as “stronger than it’s ever been.”

Still, the president holds sway over CFIUS. The treasury secretary leads the committee, which is also composed of the heads of federal agencies and, as deemed appropriate, directors of White House councils on the economy and national security.

Trump said earlier this year after meeting with the Teamsters union that he would stop the U.S. Steel acquisition: “I would block it. I think it’s a horrible thing, when Japan buys US Steel. I would block it instantaneously.”

Biden traveled Thursday to Saginaw, Michigan, which was once home to multiple General Motors plants and where he hopes his backing from union workers can resonate with voters.

The city is in a swing county that narrowly backed Trump in 2016 and then flipped to Biden in 2020, making it a crucial contest in this year’s presidential race.

Biden has a close relationship with the United Steelworkers. He gave the union members “personal assurances” that he has their backs, according to a February statement by the union about Nippon Steel’s plans. U.S. Steel is headquartered in Pennsylvania, another key state in this year’s election.

The United Steelworkers issued a statement last week after meeting with representatives from Nippon Steel that it had concerns about whether the company would honor existing labor agreements and about the company’s financial transparency, adding that there were “barriers” to closing a merger.

The US considers Japan to be one of its closest allies and a key partner in countering China’s ambitions and influence in Asia. Biden has visited the country twice as president and will host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House on April 10.

But Nippon Steel’s connections to China have raised concerns within the Biden administration. More than half the steel produced globally comes from China, according to the World Steel Association. India is the second-largest producer, followed by Japan and the United States.

The US Chamber of Commerce warned in a February blog post that it would be foolhardy of the Biden administration to block the deal. Doing so could hurt foreign investment into the United States, cause other countries to block the overseas investments that US companies want to make and undermine the US-Japan alliance, the chamber said.

John Murphy, the head of international issues for the chamber, said Thursday that it was “inappropriate and counterproductive” of Biden to politicize the CFIUS review.

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