Beijing slams US-Japan-Philippines summit, says S. China Sea actions 'lawful'

US President Joe Biden hosting Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida around a horseshoe-shaped wooden table in the grand East Room of the White House on April 11, 2024. - Reuters

BEIJING: Beijing on Friday (April 12) criticised the United States, Japan and the Philippines and defended its actions in the South China Sea as "lawful" after US President Joe Biden hosted a trilateral meeting in Washington.

Biden on Thursday pledged to defend the Philippines from any attack in the South China Sea at the White House summit, which came amid repeated confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the disputed waterway that have raised fears of wider conflict.