The Philippines, the United States and Japan held for the first time a trilateral maritime dialogue in Tokyo, where officials from three countries discussed Tuesday, Dec. 10, ways to address China’s continued aggression in the South China Sea.
In a readout provided by the US Department of State, diplomats from Manila, Washington and Tokyo discussed maritime issues in the region, expressing “serious concerns about the People Republic of China’s dangerous and unlawful behavior” in the waters.
Beijing’s aggression, they said, included the repeated blocking as well as harassment of Philippine vessels from operating within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Such behaviors, they added, “threatens the freedoms of navigation and overflight of all nations.”
The three countries had “an open and dynamic discussions,” as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) put it. They also particularly talked about strategic perspectives on institutionalizing trilateral cooperation and future policy plans, among others.
“Japan and the US expressed their support for the Philippines’ consistent efforts toward a peaceful settlement of disputes in the South China Sea,” Japan’s Foreign Ministry said.
The two countries reiterated their strong expectation that the parties to the disputes would comply with the Arbitral Tribunal's award as to the disputes between the Philippines and China regarding the sea row, thereby leading to peaceful settlement of disputes, added the ministry.
Then, the three countries “discussed opportunities to strengthen future trilateral cooperation and engagement with other partners through maritime cooperative activities, combined trainings, maritime law enforcement and coast guard capacity building,” said the US State Department.
Tuesday’s trilateral discussion on maritime issues was the first one since Presidents Marcos and Joe Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida committed to deepening cooperation across sectors, including maritime security, to advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
At the three leaders’ summit at the White House, the three leaders announced the new trilateral maritime dialogue to enhance coordination and collective responses.
For the Philippines, the conduct of the dialogue “was a significant milestone in demonstrating the deepening cooperation of the Philippines, Japan and the US on maritime concerns.”
It also demonstrated their “enduring commitment to uphold a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific through the rules-based international order that adheres to international law, particularly UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award.”
DFA Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro; US State Department Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink; and Japanese Director-General of Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nakamura Ryo led their respective countries’ delegation.