Biden vows 'ironclad' defense of Philippines, Japan

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden pledged Thursday to defend the Philippines from any attack in the South China Sea, as he hosted the first joint summit with Tokyo and Manila amid growing tensions with Beijing.

Biden's three-way meeting with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida follows repeated confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the disputed waterway.

"The United States defense commitments to Japan and to the Philippines are ironclad," Biden said as he opened the meeting in the East Room of the White House.