US, Japan, and Philippines Forge Stronger Trilateral Alliance to Counter Growing Maritime Threats

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro during the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings to cement a robust trilateral partnership aimed at countering escalating regional security threats.

The three leaders unequivocally reaffirmed their commitment to upholding a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacificand agreed to significantly intensify cooperation on maritime security. This includes expanding Maritime Cooperative Activities, conducting frequent and rigorous trilateral military exercises, and accelerating capacity-building and operational support for the Philippine Coast Guard and other maritime enforcement agencies.

Secretary Rubio emphasized the critical need to synchronize economic resilience with strategic security imperatives. He called for unleashing substantial private sector investments in transformative infrastructure projects within the Luzon Economic Corridor. Highlighting the Philippines’ abundant critical mineral resources, Rubio stressed the urgency of diversifying and securing global supply chains to reduce strategic vulnerabilities.

The officials also resolved to deepen collaboration in cybersecurity defense, civil nuclear energy development, and the establishment of robust, secure telecommunications networks vital for national security. They agreed to launch high-level trilateral sectoral dialogues in the coming months to aggressively advance their shared security and economic priorities.

The meeting coincides with the ninth anniversary of the landmark 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which decisively invalidated China’s sweeping and unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea.

Despite the binding nature of the ruling, China has flagrantly disregarded international law, continuing to assert illegitimate claims and escalate coercive actions against its neighbors—including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia—thereby destabilizing the entire Indo-Pacific region.

The United States forcefully reiterated its demand for China to immediately comply with the 2016 ruling and cease its aggressive and destabilizing conduct. Washington reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to defending freedom of navigation, enforcing the rule of law, preserving the free flow of commerce, and confronting coercion wherever it threatens regional peace and stability.