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JUNE 06, 2024 | The Indian Eye 16

frastructure projects, including rail; China’s Reaction
ports modernisation; clean energy In response to the Joint State-
and semiconductor supply chains and ment of the Japan-Philippines-US
deployments; agribusiness to further Trilateral, the PRC Foreign Affairs
connect and drive economic growth and Ministry of National Defense
in each hub, and civilian port up- issued strong opposition. A Global
grades at Subic Bay”. In late October Times report termed the trilater-
2023, the Philippines had dropped al Summit an “anti-China” gath-
out of several projects in China’s Belt ering, steeping closer to forming a
and Road Initiative (BRI), including mini-NATO in the Asia-Pacific. The
building of two railway lines in Luzon Chinese spokesperson for National
and one in Mindano, after Beijing Defense, Wu Qian, even stated that
did not respond to funding requests “China has indisputable sovereignty
on the railway projects. However, the over the South China Sea islands and
withdrawal is also said to be because their adjacent waters, which is solidly
of the mounting tensions between grounded in history and the law”.
China and the Philippines in the Describing the Nansha Islands
South China Sea. Therefore, the Lu- or Spratly Islands as Nansha Qundao
zon Economic Corridor arrives at an and Scarborough Shoal as Huangyan
opportune time to act as a strategic Dao, the Chinese Spokesperson for
counterweight against China’s BRI the Ministry of National Defense
in the region. To a certain degree, the US and Japan have reiterated their commitment to continue support- firmly stated that these islands are
The Philippine government has
already presented a list of 28 priority ing the Philippine Coast Guard’s capacity building (File photo/Agency) “far beyond the scope of Philippine
territory defined by a series of inter-
projects in areas such as “infrastruc- national treaties. Additionally, the
ture development, electronics and technology, which is crucial for se- ippines is finding itself at the fore- Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
semiconductors, food production cure telecommunications networks, front of regional tensions, the US and Spokesperson, Mao Ning, stated that
and storage and renewable energy as another area of collaboration for Japan have stressed their continued the Taiwan question is purely Chi-
sourcing in the proposed Luzon Eco- technological advancement to bene- support to deepen cooperation for na’s internal affair, and regarding the
nomic Corridor”. Once these proj- fit all three nations. a free and open Indo-Pacific. There Japanese claims over the Senkaku is-
ects are running, the LEC will have have been discussions on conducting lands, the spokesperson stressed that
the potential to be a significant driv- Climate Partnership an at-sea trilateral exercise and other China has indisputable sovereignty
er of economic growth and regional With an eye on the existential maritime activities in the Indo-Pacif- over Diaoyu Dao (Senkaku) and its
integration in the Philippines. How- threat of climate change, the Ja- ic. The announcement of the trilat- affiliated islands and Nanhai Zhudao.
ever, its success will depend on over- pan-Philippines-US chapter is seek- eral maritime dialogue later in 2024
coming implementation challenges ing to expand the trilateral cooper- also comes as a collective response to
and ensuring the project benefits the ation in the Philippines by focusing promote maritime cooperation and Conclusion
Philippines in the long run. on “deployment of clean technol- coordination. Essentially, the Japan-Philip-
It is also to be noted that the To a certain degree, the US and pines-US Trilateral chapter is look-
South Korean firm HD Hyundai ogies, including renewable energy Japan have reiterated their com- ing at the growing importance of
projects such as solar and wind, to
Heavy Industries for Shipbuilding support energy requirements in the mitment to continue supporting the the Philippines as a counterweight
and Offshore Engineering and the Philippines and help ensure a just Philippine Coast Guard’s capacity to an assertive China’s expansive
US equity firm Cerberus announced energy transition”. The three coun- building through Japan’s recent de- territorial claims. This trilateral also
the finalisation of a lease agreement tries also plan to deepen coopera- livery of twelve Coast Guard vessels acknowledges how the Philippines
to invest in the Agila Subic Shipyard tion on civilian nuclear workforce and plans to provide five additional desires to be a strong and equal part-
on 15 May 2024. With the launch development through a trilateral di- vessels to the Philippines. There are ner, leveraging its strategic value to
of the Luzon Corridor and the an- alogue expected to be held in 2024 deliberations about advancing trilat- gain economic and military benefits
nouncements of investments in the itself to advance the Philippines’ eral defence cooperation through from the US and Japan. The Sum-
Subic Bay region, it is becoming clear civil nuclear energy programme. combined naval training and exer- mit marked a significant chapter for
that the Philippines is fast becoming In order to foster a clean energy cises between the three countries geopolitical developments within the
the epicentre for strategic alignment transition, the three countries are and additional partners, such as the Indo-Pacific, which is crucial for in-
for resisting Chinese pressure. recently concluded MCA between creased economic cooperation, tech-
supporting the promotion of resilient Japan, the Philippines, the United nological advancement, maritime
and reliable global supply chains for
Critical and Emerging critical minerals needed for produc- States, and Australia, and by coordi- security and a collective front against
Technologies ing and supplying batteries for elec- nating US and Japanese support for regional security challenges. Howev-
Philippine defence modernisation
er, given the reactions of the PRC, it
Moreover, the Japan-Philip- tric vehicles in the global market. priorities. has also perhaps resulted in exacer-
pines-US Trilateral is also commit- The US and Japan are also looking The Trilateral having jointly ex- bating tensions in the South and East
forward to the Philippines becoming
ting to develop critical and emerg- a founding member of the Minerals pressed serious concerns regarding China Sea.
ing technologies in the Philippines. Security Partnership Forum, which the situation in the East China Sea, Dr. Tunchinmang Langel is a Research
This is indicated through the Joint would further help secure and diver- also jointly affirmed the importance Fellow at the Indian Council of World
Statement, which emphasised how sify their collective clean energy sup- of peace and stability across the Tai- Affairs (ICWA), New Delhi. Views
the US and Japan will jointly invest ply chains. wan Strait, calling it an indispensable expressed are personal
in developing a skilled workforce element of global security and pros-
for the Philippines’ semiconductor perity. They also have reiterated that This article first appeared
industry, strengthening regional sup- Peace and Security there is no change in their basic posi- on the website (www.icwa.in) of Indian
ply chains. This includes the Open In light of the contestations in tions on Taiwan and called for a peace- Council of World Affairs, New Delhi,
Radio Accessed Network (RAN) the South China Sea, where the Phil- ful resolution of cross-Strait issues. on May 29, 2024

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