(NewsNation) — President Joe Biden met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House Thursday in their first trilateral meeting.
Topics of discussion included countering China’s military assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.
The summit was closed to media, but the Associated Press reported that as he began the talks, Biden said that the United States’ defense commitments to Japan and the Philippines are “ironclad.”
“As I said before, any attack on Philippine aircraft, vessels or armed forces in the South China Sea would invoke our mutual defense treaty,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Kishida spoke to U.S. lawmakers, making the evolution of the Japanese-U.S. relationship front and center in his speech, though he also pushed resistant Republicans to support aid to Ukraine, and drew parallels to the situation in the Indo-Pacific.
“Japanese and US service members are working side by side to deter aggression and ensure peace,” Kishida said to a standing ovation. “I admire them. I thank them. They have the gratitude of both our nations.”
Kishida went on to say that the Democratic nations of the world must have “all hands on deck.”
“Japan is standing shoulder to shoulder with the U.S.,” he said. “You are not alone. We are with you.”
What are people saying about Japan’s visit?
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning pushed back strongly at what officials characterized as the U.S. exacerbating tensions.
“Despite China’s serious concerns, the U.S. and Japan attacked and smeared China on the Taiwan question and maritime issues, grossly interfered in China’s domestic affairs and violated the basic norms in international relations,” she said in a statement.
The visit received praise from Senate leaders, though, with Republican Mitch McConnell saying he hoped the visit would underscore that “we’re in a worldwide situation here against the enemies of democracy — led by China, Russia and Iran.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, meanwhile, said in a statement that Japan is a “close ally — critical to both our national and economic security.”
“This visit will continue to deepen the diplomatic and security relationship between our two countries and build on the strength of decades of cooperation,” Schumer said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.