Tokyo hosted the inaugural Japan-U.S.-Philippines Maritime Dialogue on Tuesday, 10 December, with officials from the three nations meeting to strengthen trilateral maritime cooperation. The three-and-a-half-hour dialogue followed the outcomes of the trilateral summit held in April.

Key participants

Leading the discussions, Japan was represented by NAKAMURA Ryo, Assistant Minister/Director-General of the Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with officials from the National Security Secretariat, Ministry of Defense, and the Japan Coast Guard.

The U.S. delegation included Dr. Mira Rapp-Hooper, Special Assistant to the President and NSC Senior Director, as well as representatives from the Departments of State and Defense, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Representing the Philippines, Maria Theresa P. Lazaro, Undersecretary of Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs from the Department of Foreign Affairs, was joined by officials from the National Security Council, Department of National Defense, and the Philippine Coast Guard.

Focus of discussions

The dialogue began with participants welcoming the launch of this trilateral initiative, underscoring their shared commitment as Pacific nations to strengthen cooperation in maintaining maritime security. Discussions addressed developments in the South China Sea, with Japan and the U.S. expressing support for the Philippines’ pursuit of peaceful dispute resolution. Both nations reiterated their expectation that parties involved in the disputes would comply with the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal's ruling, emphasizing adherence to international law.

The participants also reaffirmed their opposition to unilateral actions that seek to alter the status quo by force. The dialogue highlighted a collective goal of promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific grounded in the rule of law

Strengthening trilateral cooperation

Building on recent bilateral maritime engagements — such as the U.S.-Philippines Maritime Dialogue in October and the Japan-Philippines Maritime Dialogue last week — participants agreed to deepen trilateral cooperation. Plans to continue and expand practical initiatives in the maritime domain were discussed, with the Philippines proposing to host the second trilateral maritime dialogue in 2025, a proposal warmly welcomed by both Japan and the U.S.

On the sidelines of the dialogue, Director-General Nakamura will meet with Undersecretary Lazaro to further discuss strengthening Japan-Philippines bilateral cooperation in various areas, including security.