In separate statements, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the United States Embassy in Manila said this agreement marks a renewed commitment among the three nations to strengthen their trilateral maritime cooperation in response to persistent Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.

The trilateral dialogue participants “exchanged views on the recent developments in the South China Sea and reaffirmed their opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force,” according to the MOFA statement.  

Japan and the U.S. reiterated their strong support for the Philippines’ efforts to peacefully resolve disputes in the South China Sea. They called for adherence to the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling that invalidated China’s expansive maritime claims.

“Japan and the U.S. expressed their support for the Philippines’ consistent efforts toward a peaceful settlement of disputes in the South China Sea and reiterated their strong expectation that the parties to the disputes would comply with the Arbitral Tribunal’s award as to the disputes between the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China regarding the South China Sea, thereby leading to peaceful settlement of disputes,” MOFA said.

Representatives from Japan’s MOFA, the U.S. National Security Council, and the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs were joined by key officials from defense, coast guard, and national security agencies.

“They expressed serious concerns about the PRC’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,” according to the statement from the U.S. Embassy in Manila.

Ryo Nakamura, Assistant Minister/Director-General of Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, chaired the dialogue with representatives from the National Security Secretariat, Ministry of Defense, and the Japan Coast Guard.

On the sidelines of the Tokyo meeting, Philippine Undersecretary Maria Theresa P. Lazaro engaged in bilateral discussions with her Japanese counterparts, exploring additional areas of collaboration in security, maritime law enforcement, and economic development.

The inaugural dialogue, which stems from the April 2024 trilateral summit in the White House brought together senior officials from the three nations to discuss maritime security and uphold a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific.

Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. 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, U.S. Forces Japan Major General George Rowell, and U.S. Coast Guard Director of International Affairs and Foreign Policy Advisor Holly Haverstick were the senior representatives for the U.S. delegation.

The three nations agreed to deepen trilateral cooperation in 2025 through combined maritime activities, capacity-building programs, and enhanced information sharing. The dialogue reaffirmed their shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, anchored on the rule of law and respect for sovereignty. Veronica Uy

The consultation, chaired by Japan’s Ryo Nakamura, Director-General for Southeast Asian Affairs, will include senior officials from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Security Secretariat, Ministry of Defense, and Coast Guard.

Representing the United States will be Dr. Mira Rapp-Hooper, Special Assistant to the President and NSC Senior Director, alongside officials from the Departments of State, Defense, and Coast Guard.

The Philippine delegation, led by Undersecretary Maria Theresa P. Lazaro of the Department of Foreign Affairs, will include representatives from the National Security Council, Coast Guard, and Department of Defense.

This meeting follows a series of bilateral consultations, including the U.S.-Philippines Maritime Consultation on October 24 and the Japan-Philippines Maritime Dialogue on December 3.

The trilateral platform was agreed upon during the Japan-Philippines-U.S. Summit in April 2024, reflecting shared interests in safeguarding maritime security and fostering a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.

The agenda will cover critical regional developments, particularly in the South China Sea, and explore coordinated efforts to enhance maritime domain awareness, law enforcement capabilities, and defense cooperation.

The discussions are expected to solidify a unified stance against illegal and coercive activities in the region.

This upcoming consultation coincides with heightened security vigilance following the November 28 sighting of a Russian Kilo II-class submarine within Philippine waters near Cape Calavite, Occidental Mindoro.

The incident underscores the importance of collaborative maritime efforts among allied nations in ensuring stability and freedom of navigation in contested waters.

The trilateral meeting is anticipated to strengthen partnerships among Japan, the United States, and the Philippines as maritime democracies connected by the Pacific Ocean, paving the way for more cohesive responses to shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific.

This historic first consultation aims to further institutionalize trilateral maritime cooperation, ensuring a free, open, and secure maritime order in the region.