Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo said that the Philippines is “open” to expanding its participative or cooperative activity with “like-minded” countries who share the same vision as ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

(From left) Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi and DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo hold a joint press conference held at the Shangri-La The Fort in Taguig City on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (Raymund Antonio/MANILA BULLETIN)

During a joint press conference with Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi on Wednesday, Jan. 15, the DFA chief affirmed that Manila will welcome a similar trilateral cooperation agreement as it currently has with the United States and Japan.

“Our pursuit of any collaborative endeavor within our region is really meant to be inclusive. In other words, any of our arrangements as far as the Philippines is concerned are open to any like-minded countries who share our vision of a commitment to the rule of law as well as free and open Indo-Pacific,” he told the media.

“So, therefore, based on that principle, we, of course, are open to participation or cooperative activity that any country in the region or outside the region wish to undertake with us or a group of countries in the region,” he added.

Asked about the possibility of South Korea joining the US-Japan-Philippines trilateral cooperation, Manalo reiterated Manila’s and Tokyo’s commitment “to pursue our efforts at various types of cooperation with other countries.”

Aside from the trilateral cooperation with Washington, the official stressed that they will also continue to hold activities with Australia and other regional countries and “other types of arrangements.”

Iwaya, for his part, also reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to strengthen cooperation with the Philippines, as well as push further the partnership with the United States under the incoming Trump administration.

“Japan would continue going forward to work with the Philippines in bolstering our bilateral and multilateral cooperation in realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific based on rule of law,” he added.

Meanwhile, a statement from the Japanese Embassy in Manila provided details on the Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Working Lunch between Manalo and Iwaya on Jan. 15.

The embassy stressed the importance of the trilateral cooperation with the US “amid the increasingly severe strategic environment in the region.”

It also cited Iwaya’s “desire to work more closely together to address the regional and international challenges toward the realization of a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’.”

The two officials agreed to deepen ties in the areas of security and economy, particularly through the Official Security Assistance (OSA) and the Official Development Assistance (ODA) from Japan “to improve the Philippines' maritime security and coast guard capabilities.”

They also confirmed the two countries’ plan to proceed with the procedures for the entry into force of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) to allow Japanese defense forces in the country.

The agreement is similar to the Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US.

The statement said that Manalo and Iwaya discussed ways to maximize cooperation using Japan’s strengths in the fields of infrastructure development, including flood control, climate change, and telecommunications as these are priorities of the Marcos administration.