Biden vows 'ironclad' defense of Philippines, Japan as China tensions mount

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00:00 It's the first ever leader summit between the US, Japan and the Philippines.

00:05 At the top of the agenda was Beijing's mounting pressure on the Philippines over areas it

00:09 claims in the disputed South China Sea.

00:13 Claims that the three leaders denounced in a joint statement.

00:16 We express our serious concerns about the People's Republic of China's dangerous and

00:21 aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea.

00:24 We are also concerned by the militarisation of reclaimed features and unlawful maritime

00:29 claims in the South China Sea.

00:32 Despite an appeal by Biden to the Chinese president last year, Beijing and Manila had

00:37 a series of maritime disputes in March that involved the use of water cannons.

00:42 The clashes centre on the Second Thomas Shoal, where the Philippines grounded a warship in

00:46 1999 to bolster its sovereignty claims.

00:50 During the summit, Biden vowed the US would respond in the event of an armed attack on

00:54 the Philippines in the South China Sea.

00:57 I want to be clear, the United States, the United States defence commitments to Japan

01:03 and to the Philippines are ironclad.

01:07 They're ironclad.

01:08 As I've said before, any attack on Philippine aircraft, vessels or armed forces in the South

01:15 China Sea would invoke our mutual defence treaty.

01:20 Beyond defence assurances, the US president also pledged to develop an economic corridor

01:25 in the Philippines.

01:27 A corridor that he said will create more jobs in the region and lead to more investment

01:31 in sectors including clean energy and agriculture.

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