MANILA — The Philippines and Japan signaled their readiness to further bolster trilateral cooperation with the United States while also deepening bilateral defense and economic ties, officials said Thursday.

Visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro in Pasay City, where both officials emphasized the importance of the Japan-Philippines-US trilateral framework amid rapid shifts in the regional strategic environment.

“The Secretary and I confirmed the importance of the Japan-Philippines-US trilateral cooperation in the face of an increasingly severe strategic environment,” Motegi said. “We intend to strengthen our cooperation with the United States, our common ally for the peace and stability in the region.”

Lazaro reaffirmed Manila’s commitment to the trilateral framework and said the Philippines is prepared to host the next Trilateral Maritime Dialogue. The partnership, launched in April 2024, aims to support high-impact infrastructure investments in the Luzon Economic Corridor, improving transportation, energy, and logistics in the country’s most populous region.

Motegi and Lazaro also agreed on the need to uphold the rule of law, including freedom of navigation and overflight, particularly in the South China Sea. “We concurred on continuing to oppose unilateral attempts to change status quo by force or coercion in the East and South China Seas,” Motegi said.

New defense agreement

On the same day, the two countries signed an Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA), allowing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces to share fuel, food, ammunition, and other supplies during joint exercises and operations.

The ACSA complements the Reciprocal Access Agreement signed in July 2024, which allows Japanese troops to train and operate in Philippine territory for the first time since World War II.

In addition, Japan committed ¥900 million (around ?341 million) in Official Security Assistance for 2026 to help modernize the AFP, and another ¥1.63 billion (around ?617 million) to fund wireless broadband infrastructure in Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, areas long affected by insurgency and poor connectivity.

Economic and infrastructure cooperation

Beyond defense, Lazaro and Motegi discussed Japan’s continued role in Philippine infrastructure through Official Development Assistance loans, trade under the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, and cooperation on semiconductors, supply chain security, and the Luzon Economic Corridor. They also addressed agricultural trade, particularly banana exports, and development plans for Mindanao.

“The signing of these agreements reflect the close and evolving collaboration between the Philippines and Japan under our Strengthened Strategic Partnership,” Lazaro said.

Regional security

Both officials stressed adherence to a rules-based regional order and peaceful dispute resolution, reaffirming the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, where Philippine and Chinese vessels have repeatedly clashed over contested waters.