UPDATE 2 - Asia-Pacific nations reiterate policy of cooperation with possible Trump admin

UPDATES WITH STATEMENTS FROM THE PHILIPPINES, THAILAND

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - China on Wednesday reiterated the call for “win-win cooperation” with a possible Donald Trump administration as the former president led the race to the White House, state media reported.

“China's policy toward the US will remain consistent,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing.

Mao added Beijing will “continue to handle China-US relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation.”

The statement from Beijing came as the Republican candidate was expected to make a return to the White House as he led the presidential poll results.

Trump is currently leading Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris in the race to reach 270 Electoral College after he notched pivotal wins in Georgia and North Carolina.

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., while congratulating Trump, said his victory will result in a better future for the two countries.

"President Trump has won, and the American people have triumphed. I congratulate them on their victory in an exercise that showed the world the strength of American values," he said in a statement.

He said Manila was looking forward to working with Trump on a wide range of issues that will yield mutual benefits for the two nations with "deep ties, shared beliefs, a common vision and a long history of working together."

"I am hopeful that this unshakeable alliance, tested in war and peace, will be a force for good, blazing the path of prosperity and amity in the region and both sides of the Pacific," he further said.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra also congratulated Trump and his vice president pick, JD Vance.

"I look forward to working with you to advance Thailand-US long-standing alliance for the benefits of our peoples and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region," said Paetongtarn.

Congratulating US President-elect Trump, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the two nations are "great friends and true allies."

"Working together, we can ensure the partnership between our nations and peoples remains strong into the future," he said on X.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the US was Wellington's one of the "most important partners."

"I congratulate President-elect @realDonaldTrump and look forward to building New Zealand’s relationship with his incoming administration," he said.

South Korea vowed to work with the new US administration to establish a perfect security posture.

“The government will work to establish a perfect South Korea-US security posture with the new Washington administration to ensure unwavering national security," said Kim Tae-hyo, deputy national security adviser to the president.

Japan said it will work to build a "strong relationship of trust and cooperation" with the next US government.

The alliance is "the linchpin of Japan's foreign and security policies," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters in Tokyo.

"We will closely communicate with the next US administration to further beef up the alliance's deterrence and response capabilities," Hayashi said.

* Aamir Latif contributed to this report from Pakistan