Japan, the United States and the Philippines will hold their first high-level meeting in December to debate 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 basis for the agreement is a high-level tripartite meeting that took place in April. The foreign ministries and other relevant agencies of the three nations will work together to boost maritime security cooperation, especially in addressing the challenges posed by China.
The December consultations are expected to give attention to strengthening maritime security, promoting law enforcement cooperation and responding to China’s actions, with a specific emphasis on regional stability and compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The Philippines stands for international law
During the G7 meeting in Italy, Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo emphasized the importance of the Indo-Pacific region as a worldwide issue. This was the Philippines’ first participation within the forum, with Manalo joining representatives from South Korea, India and Indonesia for a special session on the Indo-Pacific.
Manalo presented a vision titled “Building a Rules-Based Maritime Order in the Indo-Pacific,” calling for support from the G7 and reaffirming ASEAN’s central role within the region. He also reiterated the Philippines’ commitment to international law and diplomacy, especially in resolving disputes within the South China Sea.
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G7 condemns China’s coercive actions
Tensions within the South China Sea proceed to rise over overlapping territorial claims by China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines over the Spratly and Paracel islands. The region is of strategic importance, wealthy in oil and natural gas deposits and a key route for one third of worldwide maritime trade.
The United States has strongly supported its allies, including the Philippines, against China’s militarization of artificial islands. Japan also expressed concern over China’s claim of a “nine-dash line” that overlaps with the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of several Southeast Asian countries.
In a joint statement issued on November 26, the G7 foreign ministers expressed serious concern concerning the situation within 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 within the region.
