Biden plans to have discussions with Japanese and Philippine leaders to boost defense collaboration

President Joe Biden is set to host the leaders of Japan and the Philippines later this week, and strengthening their defense cooperation will be a leading theme of their conversations.

Biden and first lady Jill Biden will host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife for a state dinner on Wednesday, and the two leaders will meet with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday for the first trilateral United States-Japan-Philippines leader summit.

“The visit will underscore the enduring strength of our alliance, the unwavering U.S. commitment to Japan, and Japan’s increasing global leadership role,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said last week.

“The current security environment is tough and complex, and we are at a turning point in history,” Kishida said ahead of the visit, according to the Japan Times. “Cooperation between Japan and the United States and like-minded countries is a very important issue.”

U.S. forces in Japan are operating under a three-star commander, who is subordinate to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, while U.S. troops in South Korea are able to operate under the unified command of a four-star general.

The Biden administration is considering appointing a four-star commander for U.S. forces in Japan, according to Reuters, which would see that person match the rank of the leader of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.

The State and Defense departments have sought to bolster U.S. strength and diplomatic presence in the Pacific region due to concerns about the Chinese military’s modernization and aggression in the South China Sea.

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon spokesman, told reporters on Thursday that defense leaders “certainly look forward to the opportunity to talk with our Japanese allies and further bolster our cooperation and our relationship as one of our most pivotal allies in the region.” He added, “Our main focus is on working together to ensure that the Indo-Pacific region remains free, it remains open, and that there’s security and stability throughout the region.”

“There’s an awful lot to discuss. Certainly, the tensions in the South China Sea are not going away,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said last week, referencing Biden’s recent call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. “That was an issue that was raised in the president’s call with President Xi just a couple of days ago. And so, there’s an awful lot to talk about there.”

Kirby said on Monday the three leaders are “expected to announce new initiatives across a range of important issues during this historic trilateral meeting.”

On Sunday, the U.S., Australia, Japan, and the Philippines conducted a “maritime cooperative activity” within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.

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“Every country should be free to conduct lawful air and maritime operations,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. “These activities with our allies Australia, Japan, and the Philippines underscore our shared commitment to ensuring that all countries are free to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows. Our operations together support peace and stability at the heart of our shared vision for a free and open region.”

China’s military aggression is often directed toward Taiwan, an island off China’s mainland that claims independence, while Beijing has not ruled out possible reunification by force, which has emerged as one of the most consequential factors in U.S.-China relations. Taiwan is a key provider of advanced semiconductor microchips for the advanced economies around the world.