The United States, Japan, and the Philippines convened the inaugural Trilateral Maritime Dialogue in Tokyo on Tuesday, marking a significant step in their collaborative efforts to bolster maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region, according to a statement.
The dialogue follows the April trilateral Leaders’ Summit at the White House, where leaders of the three nations committed to enhancing cooperation across various sectors, including maritime security, to uphold a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. At the Summit, the leaders announced the establishment of this maritime dialogue to strengthen coordination and collective responses to regional challenges.
The U.S. delegation included senior officials such as 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 of U.S. Forces Japan Major General George Rowell, and U.S. Coast Guard Director of International Affairs Holly Haverstick.
During the discussions, representatives from the three nations addressed pressing regional maritime issues, particularly the growing concerns over China's actions in the South China Sea. They condemned the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for its "dangerous and unlawful behavior," including repeated incidents of blocking and harassing Philippine vessels operating within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. Such actions, the participants noted, undermine international freedoms of navigation and overflight.
The dialogue reaffirmed the commitment of all three nations to uphold international law, specifically the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They also explored opportunities to deepen trilateral cooperation through joint maritime activities, combined training exercises, and initiatives to strengthen maritime law enforcement and coast guard capabilities.
This inaugural meeting underscores the increasing alignment between the United States, Japan, and the Philippines in addressing regional maritime security challenges and promoting stability and adherence to international law in the Indo-Pacific.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
