| Honorific-Prefix: | The Honorable |
| José S. Laurel III | |
| Predecessor: | Jacinto C. Borja |
| Nickname: | Pepe |
| Profession: | Diplomat, Lawyer |
| Birth Name: | José Sotero Laurel III y Hidalgo |
| Honorific Suffix: | KGCR |
| Successor: | Roberto S. Benedicto |
| Term End: | 1971 |
| Term Start: | 1966 |
| President: | Ferdinand Marcos |
| Death Date: | [1] |
| Birth Date: | 27 August 1914 |
| Office: | Ambassador of the Philippines to Japan |
| Spouse: | Beatriz Castillo |
| Death Cause: | Pneumonia[2] |
José Sotero Hidalgo Laurel III,[3] (August 27, 1914 – January 6, 2003) was a Filipino diplomat and the aide-de-camp of President Jose P. Laurel during the World War II period. He later became ambassador of the Philippines to Japan.
He was born on August 27, 1914. He mastered the Japanese language and culture in the Imperial Japanese Army Academy from 1934 to 1937. He served as a junior aide-de-camp to President Manuel L. Quezon from 1937-1940.
Beginning in March 1945, Laurel, together with his family, Camilo Osías, Benigno Aquino Sr., Gen. Tomas Capinpin, and Jorge B. Vargas evacuated to Baguio. Shortly after the city fell, they traveled to Tuguegarao, where they embarked a bomber plane to Japan via Formosa (now Taiwan) and Shanghai, China.[4] Alongside his father and Aquino, he was taken into U.S. custody on September 15, 1945, days after the Japanese forces formally surrendered to the United States. They were imprisoned in Yokohama until they were transferred to Sugamo Prison on November 16. On July 23, 1946, they left Tokyo for Manila, having been turned over to the Republic of the Philippines.[5]
Laurel was admitted to the Philippine bar on June 10, 1950.[6]
From 1966 to 1971, Laurel served as ambassador of the Philippines to Japan.
In 1976, Laurel initiated the Philippine Federation of Japan Alumni (PHILFEJA), a congregation of former students who graduated in Japanese colleges and universities including grantees of training programs. The association aims to strengthen Philippine-Japan relationship through educational and professional exchanges. He was also active in the Laurel Law Office up to his later years.[7]
Laurel died on January 6, 2003, at the age of 88 due to pneumonia.[8] His remains were cremated.
He is the second of nine siblings. He is the son of José P. Laurel with his wife Pacencia Laurel and brother to Jose Jr., Salvador and Sotero Laurel II. He was married to Beatrice Castillo-Laurel with children, including José Laurel V (former Governor of Batangas and former ambassador of the Philippines to Japan) and Ma. Elena Laurel-Loinaz (former president of the Philippine-Japan Ladies Association).[9] He also had 23 grandchildren.