US - Japan - Philippines dialogue, agree to strengthen defense cooperation

On June 16 in Tokyo (Japan), US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, his Japanese counterpart Akiba Takeo and Eduardo Ano of the Philippines had their first dialogue.

AP quoted a joint statement saying that the officials discussed the security situation in the Indo- Pacific region, including the situation in the South China Sea, the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. The officials stressed the importance of strengthening trilateral cooperation and maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel (left) and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (center) in Tokyo on June 15.

The advisory group discussed joint maritime exercises between the three countries in the Indo-Pacific and agreed to strengthen military cooperation in humanitarian aid and disaster response.

Mr. Sullivan said that the new trilateral framework is part of many US relationships in the Indo-Pacific region, such as US-Japan-South Korea cooperation, the US-Japan-India-Australia Quad dialogue.

“I would say different groups may have different priorities and focuses, but what we're really seeing is that the agenda is expanding because of the whole range of issues that are everywhere that are impacting every country in this region,” said Mr. Sullivan.

A day earlier, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Takeo and his South Korean counterpart Cho Tae-yong held a trilateral meeting to strengthen cooperation. Mr. Sullivan praised the progress in the Japan-South Korea relationship and assessed that it had a profound impact on strengthening the relationship between the three countries. The US official also said that he had discussed with his two counterparts about preparations for the trilateral summit in the next few months.

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