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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DFA: Trump, Ishiba meeting 'bodes well for free and open Indo-Pacific'

DFA: Trump, Ishiba meeting 'bodes well for free and open Indo-Pacific'

Published Feb 12, 2025 01:30 am

The Philippines expressed optimism after the success of the first meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, saying that it “bodes well for the realization of our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Ishiba_Trump.jpg
(From left) Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and United States President Donald Trump (Photo courtesy of Cabinet Public Affairs Office)

 

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it looks forward to working with the US and Japan.
 

“The Philippines welcomes the successful first meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Ishiba which bodes well for the realization of our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” it read.
 

“The Philippines looks forward to continue working with the United States and Japan, through our trilateral partnership, in implementing the Trilateral Joint Vision Statement, including expanding our cooperation in enhancing economic resilience and security, promoting inclusive growth and development, addressing climate change, and maritime cooperation,” DFA added.
 

According to the Japanese Embassy in Manila, Trump and Ishiba met last Feb. 7, wherein the Prime Minister “stated that the US is the most important country for Japan’s diplomacy and security” and “that he would like to work together with President Trump to continue elevating the Japan-US Alliance to new heights to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
 

Trump, who reiterated the US’ “unwavering commitment” to Japan’s defense, also shared Ishiba’s views against unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas, and agreed on the importance of “of further developing coordination of like-minded countries, including Japan-US-Republic of Korea (ROK), Japan-Australia-India-US, and Japan-US-Philippines.”
 

In 2024, the three countries entered into a trilateral partnership to enhance maritime cooperation and enter into naval exercises together.
 

In a joint statement, they promised to strengthen their efforts in promoting disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, and domain awareness.
 

Meanwhile, US Joint Staff Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jereal Dorsey confirmed in a readout the phone call between Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Brown Jr. and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Tuesday, Feb. 11 (US time).
 

The defense chiefs discussed “military modernization initiatives, Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites and increasing the scope and capacity of joint exercises in the Philippines.”
 

“Additionally, Gen. Brown emphasized the importance of domain awareness in their exclusive economic zone,” it added.
 

The readout emphasized that “the US continues to closely partner with the Philippines and remains committed to maintaining a strong alliance founded upon shared strategic interests and democratic values.”
 

The enhanced cooperation between the US and Indo-Pacific countries came amid China’s aggressive assertion of claims in the resource-rich South China Sea, the route of more than $3.4 trillion worth of global trade annually.

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