Inihayag ng Estados Unidos ang commitment nito na panatilihin ang trilateral cooperation sa Pilipinas at Japan sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni US President Donald Trump.

Ginawa ni US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ang pahayag sa bilateral meeting kay Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi sa Washington, D.C. noong Enero 22 (Manila time).

“The two Ministers concurred on the importance of further developing coordination of like-minded countries, including Japan-US-Republic of Korea, Japan-Australia-India-US, and Japan-US-Philippines," pahayag ng Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ayon sa State Department, tinalakay ng dalawang opisyal kung paano magtulungan ang Estados Unidos at Japan “to counter ongoing threats in the Indo-Pacific and around the world, including joint efforts against China’s destabilizing actions”.

Una rito, binigyang-diin ng Japan ang pangangailangan para sa presensya ng Estados Unidos sa Asya, lalo na sa gitna ng “increasingly severe strategic environment” sa rehiyon.

Sa kanyang pagbisita sa Pilipinas noong Enero 15, inihayag ni Iwaya na ang trilateral Japan-US-Philippines relations ay “highly important framework” para maunawaan ang malaya at bukas na Indo-Pacific.

“Southeast Asia is located at a strategic pivot in the Indo-Pacific and is a world growth center, thus partnership with Southeast Asia is vital for regional peace and stability,” ayon kay Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.

“We will approach the next US administration to convey that constructive commitment of the United States in this region is important, also for the United States itself,” dagdag na pahayag ni Manalo.

Muling pinagtibay ng mga foreign ministers ng QUAD member states na sina Rubio, Iwaya, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, at Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong ang kanilang “shared commitment to strengthening a free and open Indo-Pacific where the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity are upheld and defended”.

Sa kanyang confirmation hearing, inilarawan ni Rubio ang aksyon ng Beijing sa Asia Pacific bilang "deeply destabilizing" at hinimok ang China na iwasang gumawa ng “anything rash or irrational” pagdating sa Pilipinas at Taiwan kung ito ay seryoso na gawing matatag ang US-China relations.