The ongoing territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea will be tackled at the first United States-Japan-Philippines Trilateral Leaders’ Summit in Washington, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.
In a Palace briefing, DFA Undersecretary Hans Siriban said the country can expect a dialogue between the three leaders during the summit in Washington, DC.
“I think we can expect a discussion on the recent incidents. Of course, the joint vision statement is still under discussion, but we can expect an alignment of views among the three countries on the recent incidents in the West Philippine Sea,” Siriban said.
Siriban, however, emphasized the Philippines would continue to call for peace and stability in the region amid the recent incidents in the West Philippine Sea.
He also stressed the summit was not directed at any other country, but focused on bolstering the trilateral ties between the three nations.
“As we’ve said on many occasions, this trilateral cooperation is not directed at any country. It is really a deepening of the existing strong bilateral alliances that we’ve had,” he stated.
President Marcos will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and American President Joe Biden, who will host the historic meeting in Washington, DC on April 11.
According to Siriban, President Marcos would have separate bilateral meetings with the two leaders and several discussions with business leaders during his stay in the US.
“This trilateral meeting is a natural progression of the three parties’ existing robust, excellent bilateral cooperation, their enduring friendship and alliance, shared values, shared interests and shared respect of the three parties for the rules-based international order,” Siriban said.
“Of course, one of the main objectives of the President would be on economic cooperation, economic security, and of course there will also be discussions on our security cooperation and we expect these conversations, which were raised in previous meetings to continue,” he added.
“I also understand that he has meetings with the (US) Defense Secretary (Lloyd) Austin and he will also have meetings with business during his trip,” the DFA official added.
Earlier, the US reaffirmed its support for the Philippines during a meeting between National Security Council Advisor Eduardo Año and his American counterpart Jake Sullivan.
Sullivan underscored the “ironclad” U.S. alliance commitments to the Philippines under the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, following the Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia’s dangerous actions and provocations during the country’s resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal last March 23.