23-9-2023 (MANILA) On Friday, September 22, the United States, the Philippines, and Japan restated their unwavering commitment to bolster peace and stability in the South China Sea and East China Sea, as they continue their collaborative efforts to strengthen trilateral cooperation across multiple domains.
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko, and Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo convened for a trilateral meeting in New York during the UN General Assembly High-Level Week.
The discussions among these officials encompassed strategies to bolster economic resilience and advance trilateral cooperation in areas such as energy, infrastructure, and the digital economy. They also looked to enhance security cooperation, with a focus on maritime domain awareness, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief efforts, according to a statement from US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller.
Moreover, the three nations reaffirmed their dedication to fostering peace and stability in the South and East China Seas, maintaining a firm stance on upholding shared values, including freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights. They also reiterated their joint vision as equal and sovereign partners, advocating for a free and open Indo-Pacific region that adheres to international law.
Miller added, “The three countries will continue to call out behavior that is inconsistent with international law, including the PRC’s recent actions near Second Thomas Shoal that interfered with the Philippines’ lawful exercise of high seas freedom of navigation.”
Tensions flared in August between the Philippines and China when Chinese Coast Guard vessels obstructed and threatened Philippine ships during a resupply mission to an outpost in Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) in the South China Sea.
The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs revealed that during the September 22 meeting, the officials deliberated on prospective activities for trilateral cooperation and outlined a work plan.
Japanese Ambassador to Manila, Kazuhiko Koshikawa, commented on the trilateral meeting, emphasizing the unity of the three nations in upholding multilateralism based on the rule of law and confronting shared challenges. He asserted, “The unity of three countries serves as the foundation of FOIP.”
FOIP, an abbreviation for Free and Open Indo-Pacific, centers on advocating and establishing the rule of law, freedom of navigation, free trade, economic prosperity, peace, and stability, as defined by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This marks the fourth trilateral meeting among these countries this year, with the second in September alone. Earlier in the month, US Vice President Kamala Harris, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. conducted a trilateral meeting during the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Jakarta, Indonesia.
