Top officials of the Philippine Army (PA) and Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) have established deeper relations with their counterparts from Japan and the United States in a “historic” summit that sought to address various security issues in the Indo-Pacific region.
Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., PA commanding general; and Maj. Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan, PMC commandant; represented the Philippine delegation to the first-ever Japan-Philippines-US Trilateral Key Leaders’ Engagement held at Camp Asaka in Tokyo last Sunday, Dec. 11.
The top-level meeting was hosted by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) led by its Chief of Staff, Gen. Yoshida Yoshihide.
Meanwhile, the US’ side was represented by Gen. Charles Flynn, commanding general of the US Army Pacific (USARPAC); and Lt. Gen. William Jurney, commander of US Marine Forces Pacific.
“Our armies have strong bilateral engagements with one another so having this trilateral cooperation is truly a great opportunity for us in the Philippine Army to further advance our capabilities,” Brawner said.
Brawner believes that the summit has set the stage for the regularization of high-level talks among ground forces from Manila, Tokyo, and Washington “which also strengthens future multilateral cooperation frameworks.”
The meeting was described by General Flynn as a “collective commitment” of the three countries to protect national sovereignty and maintain a “free and open” Indo-Pacific region.
" grateful to JGSDF Chief, Gen. Yoshida for hosting the historic firat Japan - Philippines - US Land Forces Summit with Philippine Army Chief Lt. Gen. Brawner, USARPAC, and US Pacific Marines. We are united in our collective commitment to protecting national sovereignty and a Free and Open Indo-Pacific," Flynn said in a tweet.
The term “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” refers to a strategy of countries with similar interests in the Indo-Pacific region to ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea where China is perceived to be tightening its grip.
Meanwhile, the JGSDF said the generals had a “lively exchange of views” on the recognition of the strategic environment and defense cooperation among Japan, Philippines, and US.
“At the summit, they vigorously exchanged their opinions concerning strategic assessment and the way ahead of defense cooperation, and agreed to promote initiatives among ground forces the three nations to maintain and enhance the ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific,’” the JGSDF said in a statement.