US holds trilateral summit with leaders of Japan and Philippines

Territorial disputes

In the context of Japan and the East China Sea, the statement from Washington, Tokyo and Manila notes the situation with the Senkaku Islands (Chinese: Diaoyu Islands, administered by Tokyo since 1972), in the case of the Philippines and the South China Sea – lasting for many years and escalating recently year conflict around Huangyan Island (Scarborough Reef, under Chinese control). A summit of leaders from the United States, the Philippines and Japan expressed “serious concern about the repeated impediments” to freedom of navigation on the high seas as China obstructs the passage of Philippine ships.