Countries in the Asia-Pacific region should look at security challenges “with fresh eyes,” Japan’s ambassador to the Philippines said on Wednesday, amid growing tensions in the South China Sea. 

“As we all face the serious security challenges in this region, we also have to think creatively how we can address this matter with fresh eyes.,” Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya said at a national security forum in Makati City on Wednesday. 

Agreements among countries in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region are enough to keep the peace in the area, Philippine Navy spokesman Sea Roy Vincent Trinidad said on the sidelines of the forum.  

A security grouping of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) similar to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as proposed by Japan’s prime minister, is unlikely to take off given “divergent views of ASEAN countries,” he added. 

Before taking office, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba floated the idea of forming a NATO-like security grouping in Asia. Tokyo is not pursuing the proposal, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya later said. 

“The issue has been raised during the process of the election within the party,” Mr. Endo said, referring to the prime minister’s proposal. “And so far, since he took the position of prime minister, he has not raised this matter in the formal setting.” 

China claims the South China Sea almost in its entirety, including waters that fall within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). 

At the forum, Mr. Trinidad noted that other Southeast Asian neighbors have yet to voice out their support for the Philippines and adherence to international law. 

“We have seen individual ASEAN countries express statements of support for the Philippines,” he said. “We need more participation from other ASEAN countries in giving out not only support for the Philippines but speaking up also for international law.” 

Japan has been one of the Philippines’ key partners as the US, Manila’s major security ally, pivots to the Indo-Pacific region. 

While the US and other Western nations have avoided taking a position on the South China Sea dispute, they have opposed and openly called out moves that go against freedom of navigation and peaceful resolution of disputes. 

In his speech, Mr. Endo said Tokyo is committed to strengthening its trilateral ties with Manila and Washington.  

“Japan has been and will continue to be supportive of the Philippines in enhancing its maritime law enforcement capabilities,” he said. “We recognize the critical importance of the secure maritime domain for both our nations and the broader region.”  

After their trilateral summit in April, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., US President Joseph R. Biden and then Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced a plan to establish an economic corridor on the main island of Luzon.  

The so-called Luzon Economic Corridor, which will be funded by the US with the help of Japan, seeks to focus on “high-impact” infrastructure projects such as rails and ports and strategic investments involving semiconductors, clean energy and supply chains.  

At the forum, Mr. Trinidad noted that recent joint military exercises among the Philippines, the US and its Western allies have helped deter China’s “aggressive” actions within the Philippine EEZ.  

China has been deploying navy, coast guard and maritime militia vessels to prevent the Philippines from accessing some key South China Sea features.  

Those actions had not been when the joint drills among the Philippines, US and other nations dubbed the Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) were being held, Mr. Trinidad said. “During the conduct of MMCAs, there have been no observed coercive and aggressive actions by the [People’s Liberation Army] Navy, Coast Guard or the maritime militia.”  

Such joint drills help Manila “buy time as we continue developing our capabilities,” he added.  

Mr. Trinidad, who expressed disappointment in ASEAN members for “not doing enough” to support international law, urged them not to “suffer in silence” amid China’s expansionist agenda. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza 

NOTE: This story was corrected to remove a quote about a NATO-like grouping unlikely to take off in ASEAN, which was misattributed to Mr. Endo. The story and title were changed to reflect the Japanese envoy’s remarks. We regret the error. 

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter

THE PHILIPPINES on Wednesday called its alliance with the US “unshakeable” in the face of Asian trade terms being reset if Republican candidate Donald J. Trump, who claimed victory in the presidential race, keeps his campaign promise to increase tariffs.

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. congratulated Mr. Trump, saying his robust leadership would result in a better future.

“President Trump has won, and the American people triumphed, and I congratulate them for their victory in an exercise which showed the world the strength of American values,” he said in a statement.

“I am hopeful that this unshakeable alliance, tested in war and peace, will be a force of good that will blaze a path of prosperity and amity, in the region, and in both sides of the Pacific,” he added.

Millions of Americans voted as early as Tuesday in what is considered to be one of the most important presidential elections in decades.

Mr. Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris were almost tied in opinion polls, but results as of Wednesday afternoon showed him leading in key battlegrounds. This complicates Ms. Harris’s path to the 270 electoral votes.

Mr. Trump has pushed protectionist policies and pledged to turn the US into a manufacturing superpower. He is seeking 60% or higher tariffs on all Chinese goods and a 10% universal tariff.

Mr. Marcos said he looks forward to working with Mr. Trump on a wide range of issues that “will yield mutual benefits to two nations with deep ties, shared beliefs, common vision and a long history of working together.”

“This is a durable partnership the Philippines is fully committed to because it is founded on the ideals we share — freedom and democracy.”

Earlier in the day, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said there’s strong support for foreign military financing to the Philippines from both Democrats and Republicans.

‘STEADFAST FRIENDS’
While there are nuances that will change in every US government, “the strength of the US-Philippine relations and the importance of the Indo-Pacific to the American people will remain,” she said on the sidelines of an election-viewing event in Manila.

“I am extremely confident that US-Philippine relations will remain steadfast friends and ironclad allies as well as partners in prosperity no matter who wins in the elections of the US today.”

Ms. Carlson said looking at the foreign military financing and the support for the US-Philippine military relationship, “it is as many Republicans as Democrats who are enthusiastically supporting the US-Philippine alliance.”

“It’s the Congress that holds the purse strings in terms of financing all of our operations overseas, whether it is civilian or military,” she added.

The US under President Joseph R. Biden has reiterated that its 1950s Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines covers armed attacks on Philippine vessels, personnel and other assets anywhere in the South China Sea.

It was Mr. Trump, who is leading the presidential race, who promoted the concept of a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” mentioning it during the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum in the Philippines in 2017.

Mr. Biden has widely supported the concept, launching an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) in 2022 with a dozen initial partners. Manila joined the informal economic bloc in the same year and signed a supply-chain agreement along with other members in 2023.

The US has cited its “ironclad commitment” to the Philippines amid China’s intrusions into Manila’s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, which has become one of the major geopolitical hotspots in recent years.

The US was the largest market for Philippine exports and the fourth-largest source of imports last year.

Ms. Carlson said bipartisan support for the Philippines goes “across the board, not just when it comes to our military-to-military relationship.” “We are very strong partners in prosperity,” she said, citing the various bilateral and multilateral economic partnerships established in the past years.

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel “Babe” D. Romualdez noted that amid “a lot of speculations” on what the US elections would mean for the Philippines, “I confidently say that the US-Philippine partnership will endure under any US president.”

“We will continue to strengthen and enhance not only our bilateral defense cooperation, but our economic ties as well, cognizant that the economically secure and prosperous Philippines will be an even better ally and partner for the United States,” he said.

Mr. Trump’s recent policy remarks, including his famous America First policy and an emphasis on burden sharing, have stoked concerns that Washington could adopt an inward-looking and isolationist approach.

During his presidency, Mr. Trump withdrew from various global institutions including the Paris Climate Agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Amid uncertainties, the Philippines has been urged to cement ties with the likes of Japan and Australia, which have been active in supporting Manila on the economic and security fronts.

Australian Ambassador Hae Kyong Yu in a speech at the same forum reiterated Australia’s commitment to Southeast Asian nations including the Philippines, citing its long-term economic plan for the region.

Australia’s Foreign minister in March said Australia would invest $2.5 billion over the next four years, including $1.55 billion in new funding to enhance Australia’s Southeast Asia maritime partnerships.

Ms. Yu said the funding would complement the next phase of Australia’s bilateral civil maritime investment in the Philippines, which “will double in size to P656 million.”

“In addition, Australia has been proud to join vessels from the Philippines and other states to participate in various maritime cooperative activities in the Philippines,” she added.