Page 14 - The Indian EYE 060724

OPINION JUNE 06, 2024 | The Indian Eye 14

A New Trilateral for the Indo-Pacific:

Japan, the Philippines,

and the United States

With an eye on the existential threat of climate change, the Japan-Philippines-US chapter is seeking to expand the trilateral
cooperation in the Philippines by focusing on “deployment of clean technologies, including renewable energy projects such as solar
and wind, to support energy requirements in the Philippines and help ensure a just energy transition”

DR. TUNCHINMANG LANGEL

n 11 April 2024, the leaders
of Japan, the Philippines and
Othe United States (US) met
for the first-ever Summit between
the three countries, announcing the
beginning of a new trilateral chap-
ter in the Indo-Pacific. Since 2020,
the establishment of new minilateral
partnerships, specifically the institu-
tionalisation of the US-ROK-Japan
trilateral in 2023 and the AUKUS
in 2021, have been conveying a rap-
id consolidation for newer security
groupings amidst the rising strategic
and security challenges in the In-
do-Pacific.

Prior to the Japan-Philip-
pines-US Trilateral Summit,
the Defence Ministers of the
four nation-groupings of US-Ja-

pan-Philippines-Australia had
also issued a joint statement An Indian Coast Guard ship, Samudra Paheredar in Manila, Philippines to demonstrate marine pollution response capabilities towards
on 6 April 2024, announcing the India-Asean initiative (ANI)
to conduct a Maritime Cooper-
of China’s (PRC) increasing asser- “strong opposition to any attempts declaring it as the first partnership
ative Activity (MCA) within the tiveness in the East and South Chi- by the PRC to unilaterally change the for “Global Infrastructure and Eco-
Philippines Exclusive Economic na Sea. Questions are being raised status quo by force or coercion in the nomic Corridor in the Indo-Pacific”
about whether these new trilaterals East China Sea, including through also known as the Partnership for
Zone on 7 April 2024. In fact, and minilaterals are actually going to actions that seek to undermine Ja- Global Infrastructure and Invest-
this new four-nation grouping help balance the status quo or if they pan’s longstanding and peaceful ad- ment (PGII), which is a shared G7
will further exacerbate the complex-
ministration of the Senkaku Islands.”
commitment to advance public and
is now being touted across in- ity of the regional security issues in Additionally, the three countries private investments in sustainable,
ternational media as the new the Indo-Pacific. have jointly expressed their oppo- inclusive, resilient and quality infra-
sition to economic coercion while
structure.
Quad or “Squad”. stressing the importance of a rules- The Luzon Economic Corridor is
Key Areas of Cooperation
The Japan-Philippines-US Tri- based economic order. expected to support connectivity be-
An overview of these emerg- lateral chapter is to primarily address tween Subic Bay, Clark, Manila and
ing minilateral groupings indicates its deliverables towards the Philip- Luzon Economic Corridor Batangas in the Philippines, which
will be undertaken through “coordi-
an underlying common rationale, pines. The Joint Vision Statement On 11 April 2024, the Japan-Phil- nated investments in high-impact in-
which is to address the challenges of the new Japan-Philippines-US ippines-US Trilateral launched the
arising from the People’s Republic grouping however underscores their Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC), Continued on next page... >>

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