National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año recently discussed efforts to enhance and sustain the Philippines' maritime security cooperation with his counterparts in Japan and the United States. 

National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya on Thursday said Año spoke with his counterparts, Takeo Akiba of Japan and Jake Sullivan of the US, in a trilateral phone call on 13 December, updating them regarding the "recent dangerous and illegal maneuvers of China in the West Philippine Sea" which resulted in damage to at least three Philippine vessels.

"NSA Año thanked his counterparts for their unwavering support to the Philippines' lawful exercise of maritime rights within its EEZ, in accordance with international law, particularly the July 2016 Arbitral Award," said Malaya. 

During their discussion, Año also highlighted President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s statement that the Philippine government remains undeterred in defending the nation's sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the WPS.

Malaya said the three NSAs considered improving their maritime security cooperation through the conduct of joint patrols and capacity-building on maritime domain awareness, among others; humanitarian assistance and disaster relief; cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection; and economic security.

He added that the three officials also "agreed to continue and sustain coordination to ensure the implementation of these trilateral initiatives in the next few months."

On the other hand, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs lauded the Philippines for showing restraint over the Chinese Coast Guard's harassment of Philippine vessels in the WPS. 

"Japan highly appreciates the Government of the Philippines for having consistently complied 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 and shown its commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes in the South China Sea," it said in a statement released on Wednesday night. 

Reiterating "serious concerns" about the increasing tension in the area, the Japanese government said it will continue to support Manila's longstanding objections to "unlawful maritime claims, militarization, coercive activities and threat or use of force in the South China Sea."

"Japan has consistently advocated upholding the rule of law at sea and re-emphasizes the importance of efforts toward a peaceful resolution of disputes based on international law," it said. 

It also vowed to continue cooperating with the international community, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the United States, "to protect free, open, and peaceful seas."