Envoy cheers PH, US, Japan cooperation on South China Sea issue
By Raymund Antonio and Raymund Antonio
Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko welcomed the “trilateral collaboration” among the Philippines, the United States, and Japan in ensuring peace and order in the South China Sea, which lately has come into question because of China’s aggressive military activities and territorial claims.

(From left) Japan Coast Guard Vessel Akitsushima (PLH 32), United States Coast Guard Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752), Philippine Coast Guard vessels BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV 8301) and BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) conduct a trilateral engagement in the South China Sea June 5, 2023. (US Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Brett Cote)
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the envoy shared a link to a news article on Japan Today, the country’s number one English-language news and commentary site, about the three countries’ pledge to jointly address any unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the region.
“Welcome (Japan, Philippines, United States) leaders-level conversation during ASEAN summit reaffirming trilateral collaboration against any attempt of change the status quo by force,” he wrote.
“Solidarity among three countries is much stronger than before w/ shared objectives in promoting rule-based regional order,” he added.
The news article reported on the meeting among Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, US Vice President Kamala Harris and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. when they attended the gala dinner for the three days of summits related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta, Indonesia.
These talks were held amid Washington boosting its alliance with two of its security allies—Manila and Tokyo—in the region, with the three countries’ Coast Guards conducting trilateral maritime exercises in June.
While in Jakarta, Marcos also commended Japan for its role in maintaining peace in the Indo-Pacific region and opposing the militarization of reclaimed features in the South China Sea.
He added that since Japan and the Philippines are both maritime nations, they share the common interest of maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea and enhancing their resiliency against maritime disasters.