Press Releases
Japan-U.S.-Philippines Vice Minister’s Meeting
March 21, 2024
On March 21, commencing at 3:00 p.m. for approximately 80 minutes, Mr. OKANO Masataka, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a meeting with The Honorable Kurt M. Campbell, Deputy Secretary of State of the United States, and The Honorable Maria Theresa P. Lazaro, Undersecretary of Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines, in Tokyo. The overview is as follows.
- The three sides welcomed the first Japan-U.S.-Philippines Vice Minister’s Meeting, and concurred to work closely to maintain and strengthen the free and open international order based on the rule of law and to promote regional economic development, amidst the multiple crises the international community is facing. The three sides confirmed that Japan-U.S.-Philippines cooperation, as well as Japan-U.S., Japan-Philippines, and U.S.-Philippines cooperations, have been steadily developing, and concurred to further promote Japan-U.S.-Philippines cooperation, bearing in mind the Japan-U.S.-Philippines Summit scheduled in April.
- The three sides exchanged views on the regional issues, including the East and South China Seas and shared the view that the unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force must not be allowed.
- The three sides concurred to steadily strengthen and materialize Japan-U.S.-Philippines cooperation in the areas of security and defence cooperation including maritime security, cyber and economic security, as well as strategic and critical infrastructure and energy security, etc.