The Inaugural United States Japan Philippines Trilateral Maritime Dialogue

On December 10, Japan hosted the inaugural United States-Japan-Philippines Maritime Dialogue in Tokyo, Japan.

In April, the Leaders of the United States, Japan, and the Philippines met at the White House for the first trilateral Leaders' Summit, where they committed to deepening cooperation across sectors, including maritime security, to advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. At the Summit, our Leaders announced a new trilateral maritime dialogue to enhance coordination and collective responses.

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.

At the dialogue, the United States, Japan, and the Philippines discussed regional maritime issues. 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. Participants also reaffirmed their commitment to upholding international law as reflected in the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention.

The three countries also discussed opportunities to strengthen future trilateral cooperation and engagement with other partners through maritime cooperative activities, combined trainings, maritime law enforcement and coast guard capacity building.