MANILA, Philippines, December 12 ------ The Philippines, Japan and the United States expressed serious concerns about China’s repeated blocking and harassment of Philippine vessels operating within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone during their first Trilateral Maritime Dialogue held in Tokyo. “They expressed serious concerns about the PRC (People’s Republic of China)’s dangerous and unlawful behavior in the South China Sea including the repeated blocking and harassment of Philippine vessels from operating within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone behavior that threatens the freedoms of navigation and overflight of all nations,” the US State Department said in a statement following the dialogue. “Participants also reaffirmed their commitment to upholding international law as reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” it added.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) noted the three countries had open and dynamic discussions on strategic perspectives on regional maritime issues, institutionalizing trilateral cooperation and future policy plans. “The dialogue was a significant milestone in demonstrating the deepening cooperation of the Philippines, Japan and the US on maritime concerns, as well as their enduring commitment to uphold a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific through the rules-based international order that adheres to international law, particularly the UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” the DFA said.
The US and Japan expressed their support for the consistent efforts by the Philippines toward the “peaceful settlement of disputes” in the South China Sea. “The three countries emphasized that the trilateral maritime dialogue will serve as a durable foundation for coordination and cooperation in addressing challenges and complexities of the regional maritime landscape,” the DFA said.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry said Japan and the US reiterated their “strong expectation that the parties to the disputes would comply with the Arbitral Tribunal’s award as to the disputes between the Philippines and China regarding the South China Sea, leading to peaceful settlement of disputes.” With the current situation, Japan said the US-Philippines and Japan-Philippines bilateral cooperation's in the maritime domain have become even closer.
The three countries confirmed the practical cooperation they are promoting bilaterally and concurred to continue and enhance the momentum of trilateral cooperation. They also discussed opportunities to strengthen future trilateral cooperation and engagement with other partners through maritime cooperative activities, combined training, maritime law enforcement and coast guard capacity-building.
The inaugural Trilateral Maritime Dialogue was an outcome of the first-ever Philippines-Japan-US Trilateral Leaders’ Summit held last April at the White House, where the US and its two Asian allies committed to deepening cooperation across sectors, including maritime security, to advance a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. At the summit, US President Joe Biden, President Marcos and former Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida announced a new trilateral maritime dialogue to enhance coordination and collective responses.
The Philippine delegation to the Trilateral Maritime Dialogue was headed by DFA Undersecretary for bilateral relations and Association of Southeast Asian Nations affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro, joined by senior officials of the Department of National Defense, National Security Council, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The Japanese delegation was headed by Assistant Foreign Minister for Southeast and Southwest Asian affairs Nakamura Ryo.
Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, National Security Council senior director for East Asia and Oceania Mira Rapp-Hooper, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Laura Updegrove, Deputy Commander of US Forces Japan Maj. Gen. George Rowell, US Coast Guard Director of International Affairs and foreign policy adviser Holly Haverstick were the senior representatives for the US delegation. At the conclusion of the dialogue, Lazaro announced the Philippines’ willingness to host the Second Trilateral Maritime Dialogue next year.
Source: philstar.com
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