Engagement with PH of 'vital interest' to the US - Japan diplomat

Metro Manila, Philippines - As the foreign policy of United States President Donald Trump takes shape, the Japanese government has raised the importance of maintaining US engagement with the Philippines in the region, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya said on Friday.

The diplomat said Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba raised with Trump the importance of continuing the trilateral partnership between the three countries in an in-person meeting in Washington last Feb. 10.

"We communicate with the new US administration from the perspective that constructive US engagement in the region is in the vital interest of the US itself," the envoy said in a speech during a Stratbase Forum in Makati City on Friday, March 7.

The envoy recalled that the trilateral partnership between Manila, Tokyo and Washington has reached new heights from the trilateral maritime dialogue held last December: the trilateral leaders' phone call has institutionalized the partnership in a series of multilateral maritime cooperative activities in the South China Sea.

"It is also encouraging that the two leaders of Japan and the US agreed to advance cooperation among like-minded countries, including the trilateral collaboration with the Philippines," he added.

Kazuya said Trump and Ishiba also expressed concerns over the unlawful maritime claims to militarization of reclaimed features, and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea.

In a previous interview on NewsWatch Plus with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, the DFA chief said he sees 'brighter prospects' for Philippine-US relations under Trump.

"Well, based on my conversations… I think the Philippine-U.S. relationship may even become more enhanced or stronger. Especially as we are, as I mentioned earlier, we're thinking now we've been having more economic cooperation," said Manalo.

"And so that's certainly a good sign. And even on defense and security, I haven't heard anything that it would be less than what it is. So I think all in all, you're looking at a relationship that has good prospects. Good prospects, bright prospects, but we were already bright before, so, brighter prospects," he added.