PH-US officials seek more coordination amid South China Sea row

President Joe Biden (center), Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (left) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (right) attend a trilateral meeting in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

MANILA, Philippines — “Strengthening coordination on challenges in the South China Sea” was discussed by United States (US) and Philippine officials when  they convened in a 3+3 meeting on Wednesday.

In a media note, the US Department of State said the meeting was attended by senior officials of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Defense, National Security Council, as well as their counterparts in the US.

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It was held in Washington, DC on April 24 (Philippine time).

“The parties discussed outcomes from the recent leaders’ engagements and how both countries can continue to facilitate a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” the media note reads.

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“The parties further decided to explore additional opportunities to strengthen global support for upholding the international law of the sea,” it adds.

The assembly followed the annual US-PH Bilateral Strategic Dialogue held April 22 to April 23, as well as the historic trilateral leaders’ summit between the Philippines, US and Japan on April 11.