Japan, the Philippines, and the United States have committed to deepening their trilateral cooperation to address escalating tensions in Asia's waters. The pledge followed a virtual meeting on Monday among Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden.
The leaders agreed to strengthen economic, maritime, and technological collaboration, according to a statement from Marcos’ communications office. The call comes after the landmark summit in Washington last April, where Biden, Marcos, and then Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reaffirmed their commitment to upholding international law and promoting regional stability.
Biden, who is set to leave office next Monday, expressed optimism about the continuity of the partnership under U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. "Simply put, our countries have an interest in continuing this partnership and institutionalizing our cooperation across our governments so that it is built to last," Biden stated.
Marcos echoed the sentiment, expressing confidence in the sustained strengthening of diplomatic ties among the three nations.
The White House reported that the leaders addressed China's "dangerous and unlawful behavior in the South China Sea" and emphasized the need for coordinated action to maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Japan’s foreign ministry issued a similar statement, condemning "unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force" in the East and South China Seas without directly naming Beijing.
Japan and the Philippines, both bound by separate defense treaties with the U.S., have been engaged in territorial disputes with China. The Philippines, in particular, has faced escalating tensions over encounters between its coast guard and Chinese vessels in the South China Sea.
Biden commended Marcos for his diplomatic handling of China's "aggressive and coercive activities" in the disputed waters. The Philippines’ ratification of a military agreement with Japan last year, facilitating joint military exercises, and the three nations' coast guard drills in 2023, underscore their growing security collaboration.
The 2016 ruling by an international arbitral tribunal invalidating China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea remains a cornerstone for Manila's position, despite Beijing's rejection of the verdict.
With regional tensions at a critical juncture, the trilateral alliance stands as a united front advocating for international law, peace, and stability in Asia.