In the first ever meeting among Pacific allies, President Biden hosted a tripartite meeting in Washington, DC. His goal: to indicate solidarity among the 3 nations as a message to Xi JP and his Communists in Beijing who like to think of the Pacific Ocean as the "Chinese Sea".
After years of aggressive moves in the western Pacific, to include the build up of advanced military bases on rocky outcrop islands, Pres. Biden finally set the stage for high profile talks to assure these nations that we are well aware of the efforts of Beijing to intimidate these small countries: Japan and the Philippine Islands. Since the end of World War II, these countries have been vital to US interests and to the strategic plans for US in the Pacific region especially during the Cold War that followed. Japan has been home to large US military bases in Tokyo, Sasebo, Okinawa, Iwakuni, Yokosuka, and Tachikawa. During the Vietnam war, Japan was well placed to handle massive logistical efforts to support American forces in South East Asia.
Additionally, the Philippines were home to large US naval installations in Subic Bay and Manila Bay. South Korea is also a keystone element of US strategic planning, and economic efforts. So, Xi JP is on notice: move carefully. The situation in Hong Kong provides a blueprint for Beijing strategy: believe what you see, not what we say. Ha. Hong Kong will be run as it was for the next 50 years. Not. The hell with that said Beijing. We changed the rules because we are China.
Thank you very much, Xi Jin Ping. Have a nice day.
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