Photo/Illutration Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, left, and Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo attend a joint news conference in Taguig City, Philippines, Jan. 15. (Pool Photo via AP)

MANILA—Japan and the Philippines have agreed to bolster trilateral cooperation with the United States on maritime security, cybersecurity and economic security.

Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met with Enrique Manalo, his Philippine counterpart, in Manila on Jan. 15, days before Donald Trump returns to the White House.

“We agreed to maintain and strengthen the momentum of cooperation among Japan, the United States and the Philippines” through close communications with the second Trump administration, Iwaya said.

At the outset of the meeting, Manalo said Manila plans to explore ways to strengthen relations with Tokyo in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.

The meeting was held amid growing concerns about escalating tensions over territorial claims in the South China Sea between the Philippines and China.

The day before, Manila announced it had confirmed an “illegal” patrol by a 165-meter-long China Coast Guard vessel, dubbed “the monster,” inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

Iwaya expressed “serious concerns” on Jan. 15 about repeated acts that heighten regional tensions in the South China Sea.

At their meeting, the foreign ministers also confirmed Tokyo’s continued assistance to Manila’s maritime security and safety capacity through its Official Security Assistance and Official Development Assistance programs.

(This article was written by Toshiya Obu and Nen Satomi.)