PH-US-Japan summit not just about WPS – Romualdez

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marvos Jr., US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrive at the White House on April 11 for a first-ever trilateral summit. (AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has dismissed claims that the recent trilateral summit that the Philippines took part in only intensified tensions in the Indo-Pacific, reiterating that discussions were not solely about security issues.

 In a press briefing on Monday, Romualdez was asked about fears from observers and analysts that the trilateral meet with the United States (US) and Japan will only attract a more aggressive response from China, since the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue was a key topic.

According to the Speaker, a lot of topics were discussed when President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., US President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio met.

“The trilateral agreement is not just about the West Philippine Sea.  The trilateral agreement just affirmed the bilateral arrangements between the Philippines to the US, and the Philippines to Japan.  And the stronger relations are consolidated, and with respect to the West Philippine Sea issue, of course the Philippines’ stand on the areas disputed by China will be strengthened,” Romualdez told reporters at the House complex.

“Japan and the US are standing steadfast behind our national sovereignty and territorial integrity.  But the huge part of the trilateral meeting is what I mentioned earlier in my speech, the economic security being pursued by the Philippines,” he explained.

Romualdez said that the trilateral summit jives with President Marcos’ goal of attracting more investments into the Philippines, and hopefully create more jobs and boost the economy.

“It is in these kinds of arrangements (that we look) to strengthen the economy, with the growth story of the Philippines and the policies of President […] Marcos Jr. where he invites the investors, all businesspeople, all big businesses to invest in the Philippines to improve the economy, create more jobs, and increase the revenue of the country,” he said.

“So, it is based on that understanding, in the long run it will really help us not just security wise but economically,” he added.

After the historic trilateral summit last April 12 in Washington, D.C., China expressed its opposition to a “stoking bloc confrontation” in the WPS — referring to the Philippines-US-Japan alliance.

Philippine and American officials, however, have maintained that the summit is not aimed at China’s aggressive actions over the WPS. 

Before Marcos went to the US, the Department of Foreign Affairs said that despite the rising tensions, the summit is not directed at any nation.