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The three nations met in the United States to begin a “new trilateral chapter” between them, supporting prosperity and security in the Indo-Pacific and expressing concern over China’s actions in the South China Sea and East China Sea.
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President of the United States Joe Biden hosted Japanese and Philippine counterparts Kishida Fumio and Ferdinand Marcos Jr in Washington, early April, agreeing on a new trilateral framework between the nations.
The framework spans economic partnerships, including supporting infrastructure in the Luzon Corridor as well as the development of critical and emerging technologies. The partners have also agreed on depending collaboration to deter China’s continued maritime aggression towards neighbouring countries.
Negotiations over the trilateral security framework began in June 2023 during a meeting between the three nations’ national security advisers in Tokyo and a subsequent virtual meeting the following December to establish the framework for collaboration.
Biden took the opportunity to reaffirm the United States’ ongoing alliance commitments to Japan and The Philippines, including the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as the sovereign rights of nations within their exclusive economic zones.
The commitments come as the PRC courted controversy after spraying civilian boats from the Philippines with water guns as they visited the contested Scarborough Shoals, with the three leaders pledging to deepen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
“We express our serious concerns about the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) dangerous and aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea,” a statement from the leaders read.
“We steadfastly oppose the dangerous and coercive use of Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels in the South China Sea, as well as efforts to disrupt other countries’ offshore resource exploitation.
“We reiterate serious concern over the PRC’s repeated obstruction of Philippine vessels’ exercise of high seas freedom of navigation and the disruption of supply lines to Second Thomas Shoal, which constitute dangerous and destabilising conduct.”
The leaders extended their support to Japan’s administration of the Senkaku Islands, as well as ongoing stability in the Taiwan Strait.
The trilateral partnership will see the three nations deepen their maritime cooperation in the region.
“The US and Japan continue to support Philippine Coast Guard capacity building, including through Japan’s recent provision of 12 Coast Guard vessels and plans to provide five additional vessels to the Philippines.
“Following the first-ever joint exercise between our coast guards in 2023, the United States looks forward to welcoming Philippine and Japan Coast Guard members onto a US Coast Guard vessel during a patrol in the Indo-Pacific this year.
“Within the next year, our coast guards also plan to conduct an at-sea trilateral exercise and other maritime activities in the Indo-Pacific to improve interoperability and advance maritime security and safety.”
The three countries pledged further cooperation in space, climate change, and regional development.
