MANILA, April 12 -- The Philippines, Japan and the United States' agreement to advance trilateral cooperation, including on defense and security, would help maintain the status quo in the West Philippine Sea, an international studies expert said Friday.

At the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, Pacific Forum Director for Maritime Security Jeffrey Ordaniel believes that the partnership would further boost the Philippines' capacity to protect its rights within its maritime zones.

"My expectation is there will be more efficient and strategic coordination on how to better build Philippine capacity. (There will be) division of labor to make sure that China does not continue to coerce its way through domination of the South China Sea and the r...