- US Pres. Joe Biden on Thursday reasserted America's "ironclad" commitment to defending the Philippines in the South China Sea. The White House
- Under their 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, the US is bound to defend the Southeast Asian nation if Philippine forces, vessels, or aircraft ever come under an armed attack in the Pacific. U.S. Department of Defense
- Biden hosted his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and Japan's Fumio Kishida on Thursday for a first-ever trilateral summit amid mounting tensions with China in the Indo-Pacific, including incidents between the Philippines' and China's coast guards. Associated Press (LR: 3 CP: 5)
- The three leaders expressed "serious concerns" over China's "dangerous and aggressive behavior" in the South China Sea, and urged Beijing to abide by the "legally binding" 2016 arbitration ruling that determined the shoal lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. RAPPLER
- They also agreed to ramp up joint naval exercises and coast guard cooperation, as well as to launch the Luzon Economic Corridor — the first infrastructure project in the region under the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. The Japan Times
- In response, a spokesperson for Beijing's Foreign Ministry claimed that China's actions were completely in accordance with international law, adding that "firm measures" would be taken to protect China's sovereignty. Fmprc
Anti-China narrative:
- This trilateral summit has sent a clear message to China that it can't walk all over its neighbors. A growth in relations between the three countries is a strategic advantage, as well as a necessity to counter PRC meddling. With the help of two of the world's three largest economies, the Philippines can finally take a stand against continued Chinese aggression.
INQUIRER.NET
Pro-China narrative:
- Tricked by the fickle promises of a self-serving power that's seeking to use it as a vessel for American interests, the Philippines has decided to side with the US despite its historical ties to China. By following America's path, the Philippines has increased its chances of being placed in harm's way as part of the West's wider hegemonic game to undermine China's prosperity.
GLOBAL TIMES
Nerd narrative:
- There's an 18% chance that there will be an armed conflict between the Philippines and China causing at least 100 deaths before Jan. 1, 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)