US President Joe Biden on Wednesday praised the strength of the alliance with Australia in the face of multiple crises around the world, warning Beijing against its actions in the South China Sea.
“Any attack on aircraft, ships or the Armed Forces of the Philippines will activate our mutual defense partnership,” he said at a press conference alongside the Prime Minister Australian Anthony Albanese.
“The United States’ commitment to the Philippines is ironclad,” he added.
Manila on Monday accused Chinese ships of “intentionally” colliding with Philippine boats near an atoll in the South China Sea, heightening the diplomatic dispute after two collisions in these disputed waters.
President Biden received with great fanfare the Australian Prime Minister at the White House, welcomed with all the honors of a state visit.
He will be entitled to a gala dinner on the lawn of the presidential residence, after meeting with Joe Biden.
This sumptuous day reflects the importance that Washington attaches to its long-time ally, Australia, a country that has become a cornerstone of its strategy to contain Beijing’s increasingly assertive ambitions in the Asia-Pacific region.
“We will compete with China in every way possible while respecting international rules – political, economic and others. But I’m not looking for conflict,” President Biden said during a press conference.
Mr. Albanese insisted on the need to maintain “dialogue” with Beijing.
In the morning, the two leaders said they were in sync on the conflicts between Israel and Hamas and in Ukraine.
“We stand with Israel against Hamas terrorism and we stand with Ukraine against Putin’s tyranny,” Mr Biden said, while Mr Albanese thanked Joe Biden for speaking out with “moral clarity” about the conflict.
In a sign of the seriousness attached to the visit, the White House canceled the appearance of the rock group B-52s, which was to perform at the reception dinner, for fear that it would appear inappropriate in the context of discussions on current crises. .
Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon arrived at the White House on Tuesday evening, welcomed by the Biden couple, before a private informal dinner and an exchange of official gifts.
The reception Wednesday evening will be only the fourth state dinner hosted by President Biden, following those held in honor of the leaders of France, South Korea and India.
The Australian Prime Minister’s visit comes as the House of Representatives finally gave itself a speaker on Wednesday, Republican Mike Johnson, which could help unlock funding for the Aukus tripartite security agreement between Australia, the Kingdom -United States and the United States, blocked until then due to the paralysis of Congress.