WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said U.S. defense commitment to Pacific allies was "ironclad" as he gathered Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House on Thursday in the midst of growing concern about provocative Chinese military action in the Indo-Pacific.
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Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday in the House chamber at the Capitol in Washington as Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., look on.
President Joe Biden, center, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., left, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pose Thursday before a trilateral meeting in the East Room of the White House in Washington.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., right, meets with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
President Joe Biden, center, speaks Thursday as Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken listen during a trilateral meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in the East Room of the White House in Washington.
On board a Philippine patrol in contested South China Sea
A suspected Chinese militia ship passes as members onboard the Philippine Coast Guard BRP Malabrigo drives them away from Philippine-occupied areas in the South China Sea on Friday, April 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Philippine Coast Guard Commander Julio Colarina III, right, sits with his crew at the navigational bridge of the BRP Malabrigo as they begin their patrol in the Sulu Sea, Philippines on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Two Philippine Coast Guard vessels patrolled in Philippine-occupied areas in the Spratly archipelago, the most fiercely contested region in the busy sea channel. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
The Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Malabrigo deploys a boat to transport supplies to the Philippine-occupied Nanshan Island, locally called Lawak, April 20 in the South China Sea.
Philippine Coast Guard apprentice Seawoman Alinea Pagay looks outside the window of the BRP Malabrigo as they patrol around South China Sea on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Philippine Coast Guard Seawoman First Class Alaine Maraviles catches water containers after a resupply mission at Philippine-occupied Nanshan island locally named Lawak in the South China Sea on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
A member of the Philippine Coast Guard checks the map onboard the BRP Malabrigo as they patrol around Philippine-occupied areas in the South China Sea on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Philippine Coast Guard Petty Officer 2 Reggie Lobusta, right, gestures to the bridge of BRP Malabrigo as he checks the path while they approach a Philippine-occupied areas in the South China Sea on Thursday, April 20, 2023 (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Members of the Philippine Coast Guard sing a birthday song to one of their comrades April 22 on the navigational bridge of the BRP Malabrigo during a lull in activities as they patrol and resupply troops at Philippine-occupied areas in the South China Sea.
Mimi, the dog, tries to follow Philippine Coast Guard Commander Julio Colarina III onboard BRP Malabrigo as they continue their patrol and resupply missions on Philippine-occupied areas in the South China Sea on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
A member of the Philippine Coast Guard points at the map onboard the BRP Malabrigo during their patrol and resupply missions at the Philippine-occupied areas in the South China Sea on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Philippine Coast Guard members eat a meal after their four-hour shift onboard the BRP Malabrigo during it's patrol and resupply mission to Philippine-occupied areas at the South China Sea on Saturday, April 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
A member of the Philippine Coast Guard watches from the bridge of the BRP Malabrigo as they patrol and resupply troops at Philippine-occupied areas in the South China Sea on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Philippine Coast Guard Commander Julio Colarina III gives water to his dog Mimi onboard the BRP Malabrigo as they continue their patrol and resupply of troops at Philippine-occupied areas in the South China Sea on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
The sun sets over the South China Sea as it is seen onboard Philippine Coast Guard BRP Malabrigo while on patrol and resupply missions to Philippine-occupied areas on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Members onboard the Philippine Coast Guard BRP Malabrigo prepare for a resupply mission on Philippine-occupied Northeast Cay locally called Parola in the South China Sea early Friday, April 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Members onboard the Philippine Coast Guard BRP Malabrigo prepare for a resupply mission to troops on Philippine-occupied Northeast Cay locally called Parola in the South China Sea early Friday, April 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Members of the Philippine Coast Guard BRP Malabrigo navigate dark waters on a rigid inflatable boat during a resupply mission to Philippine-occupied Northeast Cay locally called Parola in the South China Sea early morning Friday, April 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Philippine Coast Guard Seaman First Class Darrell Osera washes the windows of BRP Malabrigo as they patrol Philippine-occupied areas in the South China Sea on Saturday, April 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Members of the Philippine Coast Guard react as they get a mobile signal onboard the BRP Malabrigo while they come close to Philippine-occupied Thitu island locally known as Pag-asa island in the South China Sea, Philippines on Friday, April 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Philippine Coast Guard Seawoman First Class Alaine Maraviles places salt on eggs as they cook their meal after their four-hour shift onboard the BRP Malabrigo during it's patrol and resupply mission to Philippine-occupied areas in the South China Sea on Saturday, April 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Philippine Coast Guard Apprentice Gladys Jane Dosdos, turning 27, blows the candle placed on eggs which served as a cake onboard the BRP Malabrigo during it's patrol and resupply mission to Philippine-occupied areas in the South China Sea on Saturday, April 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Philippine Coast Guard apprentice Seawoman Alinea Pagay monitors a nearby Chinese Coast Guard vessel onboard the BRP Malabrigo as they patrol Philippine-occupied areas in the South China Sea on Sunday, April 23, 2023
Philippine Coast Guard Commander Julio Colarina III hugs his dog Mimi as they enter his room onboard the BRP Malabrigo while it continues patrol and resupply missions at Philippine-occupied areas in the South China Sea on Sunday, April 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Philippine Coast Guard Petty Officer 2 Reggie Lobusta sings karaoke in the mess hall as they spend time entertaining themselves before their shift onboard the BRP Malabrigo in the South China Sea on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Philippine Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Reggie Lobusta walks back to his quarters after his four-hour shift onboard the BRP Malabrigo as it continues it's patrol and resupply mission at the South China Sea on Saturday, April 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
A fishing boat passes by a setting sun in the Sulu Sea, as seen onboard Philippine Coast Guard BRP Malabrigo while it heads to Philippine-occupied areas at nearby South China Sea on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
