Japan, Philippines Urge Trump to Maintain US Security in Asia [Video]

Japan and the Philippines are urging President-elect Donald Trump to sustain U.S. engagement in Asia amid rising tensions with China.

Newsweek has contacted the Japanese and Philippine presidential offices for comment via email.

Why It Matters

As Trump prepares to return to office, his “America First” policy proposals have raised concerns about the U.S.’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific region. Leaders in Japan and the Philippines—both bound by defense treaties with the U.S.—have repeatedly highlighted the strategic importance of maintaining alliances in the face of threats via the South China Sea and East China Sea.

There has been a spike in interactions between Chinese and Philippine coast guards and other forces in the busy sea passage, which facilitates one-third of global trade.

What To Know

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