Indo-Pacific Partners

National security advisors for Japan, the Philippines and the United States held their first joint talks in June 2023 and agreed to strengthen defense cooperation, as Indo-Pacific partners reinforce their alliances to address growing tensions over North Korea, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

The three officials discussed the “turbulent regional security environment and how we can collectively work to enhance peace and stability” in areas including freedom of navigation and economic security, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said.

In a joint statement, Sullivan, Takeo Akiba of Japan and Eduardo Ano of the Philippines emphasized the importance of enhancing trilateral cooperation, building on the longtime Japan-U.S. and Philippines-U.S. alliances to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, especially in the Taiwan Strait.

Sullivan said the new framework underpins multiple alliances involving the U.S. in the region, including three-way cooperation with Japan and South Korea, and the Quad partnership with Australia, India and Japan.

The national security advisors said they also discussed joint naval exercises in Indo-Pacific waters and agreed to deepen military cooperation in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Japan in December 2022 adopted a new National Security Strategy that calls for doubling defense spending to $310 billion through 2027, including for developing counterstrike capabilities.

Japan will also provide security assistance for other militaries and is likely to supply Japanese-made nonlethal equipment such as radar, antennas and patrol boats, and infrastructure improvements. The Philippines is a candidate to receive assistance.  The Associated Press