(photo credit: Embassy of Japan)
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel ‘Babe’ Romualdez, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya, and U.S. Chargé d’Affaires ad interim to the Philippines Y. Robert Ewing convened recently in the annual board meeting hosted by the US-PH Society at The Peninsula Manila.
The envoys participated in the panel discussion titled “Trilateral: Strategic Cooperation and the Luzon Economic Corridor Initiative.”
Endo highlighted the strategic value of trilateral cooperation among Japan, the United States, and the Philippines across various fields which include security and economy, such as cooperation in the Luzon Economic Corridor—the first Indo-Pacific economic corridor under the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment— which includes projects such as Japan’s North-South Commuter Railway and the US-supported Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas freight railway.
He emphasized the significance of non-government actors, including Track 1.5 initiatives, in trilateral cooperation. He also recognized the US-PH Society’s efforts in this regard.
According to Ewing, last year marked an exceptional chapter for the Philippines, Japan, and the United States, as collaborations produced results that clearly demonstrate the strength of the trilateral partnership.
He cited 75 years alliance with the Philippines has grown stronger with their shared values and commitment to a free, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific, making “Philippine concerns U.S. concerns—especially in response to China’s increased aggression in the South China Sea. Building credible deterrence is a shared responsibility, one where our trilateral partnership continues to make significant progress.”
Ewing noted, it was emphasized during the the 2025 ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur that “a free and secure Indo-Pacific depends on the Philippines’ economic growth.”
He also cited the military exercises, such as Balikatan 2025 and the Joint Coast Guard Exercise off Kagoshima, that continue to grow in sophistication and scope, demonstrating ability to address shared challenges together.
Identifying technology innovation as another central aspect of the trilateral work, Ewing cited the launch of the Open Radio Access Network Laboratory at the University of the Philippines, and the support of workforce development for the Philippines’ civil nuclear program and strengthening cyber defense capabilities to respond to increasingly complex threats.
“Ultimately, the private sector will unlock new engines of economic growth. In the coming year, we look forward to collaborating with Japan and the Philippines to accelerate private investment in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, digital infrastructure, liquified natural gas, and other critical sectors,” he added.
“We remain committed to deepening joint interoperability, expanding maritime cooperation, attracting investment, and driving technological transformation,” he said in closing.
