Japan, the United States, and the Philippines will hold their first high-level meeting in December to discuss maritime security cooperation. The agreement follows a trilateral meeting between Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy.
The agreement builds on a high-level trilateral meeting held in April. The foreign ministries and other relevant agencies of the three nations will work together to enhance maritime security cooperation, particularly in addressing challenges posed by China.
The December consultations are expected to focus on strengthening maritime security, promoting law enforcement cooperation, and responding to China's actions, with an emphasis on regional stability and adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Philippines Advocates International Law
Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo highlighted the importance of the Indo-Pacific as a global concern during the G7 meeting in Italy. This was the Philippines' first participation in the forum, where Manalo joined representatives from South Korea, India, and Indonesia in a dedicated Indo-Pacific session.
Manalo presented a vision entitled “Building a Rules-based Maritime Order in the Indo-Pacific,” urging G7 support and reaffirming ASEAN's central role in the region. He also reiterated the Philippines' commitment to international law and diplomacy, particularly in addressing disputes in the South China Sea.
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G7 Condemns China's Coercive Actions
Tensions in the South China Sea continue to escalate over overlapping territorial claims by China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines to the Spratly and Paracel Islands. The region is strategically important, rich in oil and natural gas reserves, and serves as a critical route for one-third of the world's seaborne trade.
The United States has strongly supported its allies, including the Philippines, against China's militarization of artificial islands. Japan has also expressed concern over China's "nine-dash line" claim, which overlaps with the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of several Southeast Asian nations.
In a joint statement issued on November 26, G7 foreign ministers expressed grave concern over the situation in the East and South China Seas. They rejected China's expansive maritime claims as having no legal basis and condemned Beijing's militarization, coercive tactics and intimidation in the region.
