The triangular cooperation of the Philippines, Japan, and India sends a strong message of unity to sustain the rules-based-order
THE situation has escalated beyond the China Coast Guard’s risky maneuvers with the recent sightings of People’s Liberation Army-Navy warships harassing Philippine vessels and China’s alleged jamming of identification signals near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal further bumps up tensions in West Philippine Sea.
In a quoted statement before flying to the state visit to Australia, the President remarked, “It’s really worrisome. Before, it’s just the China Coast Guard that’s making moves in our area. Now their Navy and fishing boats are joining them, so the situation is really changing.”
He gave assurances the Philippines will continue to defend its sovereign rights and protect Filipinos’ livelihood in traditional fishing grounds.
The two-day state visit on Feb 28-29 at Canberra pursues what has been an effective alliance building strategy with like-minded states to address the escalating risks to the country’s national and economic security.
The Philippines and Australia signed agreements to enhance maritime cooperation and security, cybersecurity and critical technology capability building, and strengthening economic relations through the sharing of best practices on merger and competition regulations, and investigative techniques for the implementation of competition laws, among others.
In the latest forum organized by international think tank Stratbase Institute, in partnership with the Japan Foundation Manila, themed: “Bridging Borders: Triangular Cooperation for Regional Prosperity between the Philippines, India, and Japan,” there is strong consensus among participating government, geopolitical and economic experts that solidify security and economic cooperation among the three countries will be instrumental to ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Kenichi Matsuda, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy Of Japan to the Philippines, in his statement said, “Japan, guided by the vision of Free and Open Indo-Pacific, remains undaunted in reaffirming a global governance architecture that upholds and protects the peace, security, and prosperity across the region.”
Matsuda expressed Japan’s high regard to India and the Philippines as indispensable partners alongside with other like-minded partners and allies.
“We stand on the tenets of dialogue and cooperation to ensure core principles, including the freedom of navigation and overflight and the peaceful settlement of disputes,” Matsuda said.
Director of the Japan Foundation Ben Suzuki likewise supports the strengthening of the FOIP as essential to sustaining regional peace and prosperity.
He sees the need “to encourage a new generation of policymakers, researchers, experts, and practitioners who share the same concerns to collaborate and support the development of new policy proposals and initiatives in the Indo-Pacific Region.
Ambassador of India to the Philippines Shambu Kumaran believes this is a crucial time to build triangular cooperation particularly in the maritime domain being that there are already existing bilateral relationships among the three countries.
“Maritime security will be an area of focus and I think we should look at what we can do, the three of us, and multiply what we are each doing bilaterally with each other,” Amb. Kumaran said.
Geopolitical expert Dr. Jagannath Panda emphasized the need for the Philippines, Japan, and India to continuously resist China’s authoritarian and revisionist agenda as a triangular alliance to maintain freedom of navigation and protect the supply chains.
This is crucial to the commercial interests not just of the triangle but for all countries that will be affected should maritime routes in the Indo-Pacific region are disrupted.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro, for her part, said the prospect for triangular cooperation can help drive the economic engines of these countries towards shared economic prosperity in the region and will tangibly be felt by the people.
Stratbase ADR Institute President Prof. Dindo Manhit stated the move towards triangularity comes at a crucial time and demonstrates how the three countries are working together towards shared goals.
“The best way to do this is through what our Institute continuously emphasizes: a whole-of-society approach involving government, civil society, the private sector, and the international community,” Manhit said.
The West Philippine Sea has become a critical flashpoint in the ongoing tensions between Beijing and Manila.
Despite the internationally recognized 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s imaginary dash line claims, it continues to instigate its asymmetric enforcement of expansionist ambitions over almost all of the South China Sea.
The triangular cooperation of the Philippines, Japan, and India sends a strong message of unity to sustain the rules-based-order in maintaining peace and security in the regional and global commons against the aggressive-coercive actions of China.