PH, US, Japan push for free, open Indo-Pacific

The Philippines, United States, and Japan have agreed that a free, stable, and secure Indo-Pacific region hinges on the economic development of the Philippines, as the three countries underscored the importance of their trilateral cooperation.

- RAYMUND ANTONIO

In a statement about the trilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the 58th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, July 11, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi.

During the meeting, the three senior officials "discussed strengthening security cooperation and reaffirmed commitment to safeguarding regional peace, stability and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea." But Lazaro also reminded both partners that "in order for us to be politically strong, we have to be economically strong," something that US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that Rubio and Iwaya also agreed on.