PH says ‘successful’ Trump-Ishiba meeting bodes well for Indo-Pacific

BILATERAL SUMMIT. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru (left) and United States President Donald Trump during their summit in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 7, 2025. The two leaders conveyed serious opposition to China’s maritime claims and its threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea. (Photo: Prime Minister Ishiba’s office/X)

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the successful first summit between President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru sent a positive signal to the region.

In a statement on Tuesday, DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said the Philippines welcomed the “successful first meeting” and that it “bodes well for the realization of our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

“The Philippines looks forward to continue working with the United States and Japan, through our trilateral partnership, in implementing the Trilateral Joint Vision Statement, including expanding our cooperation in enhancing economic resilience and security, promoting inclusive growth and development, addressing climate change, and maritime cooperation,” she said.

The Japanese government defines the free and open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) as a concept that consolidates principles such as free trade, freedom of navigation, and the rule of law that maintains regional stability and prosperity.

The Indo-Pacific stretches from the Asia-Pacific across the Indian Ocean to the Middle East and Africa.

Trump and Ishiba met in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 7 and reaffirmed their commitment to trilateral cooperation with other countries, including with the Philippines.

The two leaders also conveyed “serious opposition” to China’s “unlawful maritime claims, the militarization of reclaimed features, and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea.”

In addition, they reaffirmed their commitment to continue cooperating “to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific.”