Japan-U.S.-Philippines summit announced to be held next month to strengthen security cooperation. The aim appears to be to strengthen cooperation with China, which is accelerating its maritime expansion.
In the South China Sea, conflicts are deepening over Second Thomas Reef, where the Philippines has a military base, with China interfering with the activities of Philippine ships. The Biden administration seems to be aiming to strengthening cooperation among the three countries on the security front with China in mind, and to increase deterrence in the region.