MANILA - The Philippines and Japan reaffirms its strategic partnership as Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio conducted an official visit to the country, highlighted with a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and the signing of various Memoramdum of Cooperation, Exchange of Notes and the formalization of a grant aid for the Philippine Navy’s maritime domain awareness capabilities.
In a joint press statement released by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the two leaders welcomed the development of a strategic partnership based on the Joint Statement issued last February 9, 2023 following the visit of President Marcos to Japan.
It stated that “this reaffirmed that the two countries would continue to foster greater cooperation and push the strategic partnership forward by carrying out the current and planned initiatives of both countries detailed in the Joint Statement”.
In a meeting at the Malacanang Palace Friday evening, the two leaders stressed “a strong commitment to the free and open international order based on the rule of law and strongly opposed any attempt to jeopardize the foundation of the international order which does not accept any change of the internationally recognized borders by force or coercion.”
President Marcos also expressed appreciation for Japan’s continued commitments to the development of the Philippines, specifically “the assistance that it has provided to the Philippines’ capacity development efforts and infrastructure development projects, including in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), under the banner of unity and progress.”
In relation to this, the two leaders reaffirmed the importance of efforts to reinforce Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and maritime law enforcement especially through building capacities of the Philippine Coast Guard.
During the meeting, PM Kishida reiterated Japan’s commitment to support the country’s infrastructure development through it’s Official Development Assistance (ODA), including the JPY 600 billion ODA and private-sector investments in the Japanese Fiscal year 2022-2023.
Meanwhile, Marcos welcomed Japan’s assistance for building the capabilities of the defense forces of the Philippines through its new cooperation framework which is the Official Security Assistance (OSA).
The two leaders also decided to start negotiations on a Reciprocal Access Agreement (Japan-Philippines RAA), which follows a similar deal with the Philippines and the United States known as the Visiting Forces Agreement, which will allow deployment of troops on both sides to undertake military exercises and other security activities.
Also signed during the visit is a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of Tourism, on Mining Sector between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; and the Exchange of Notes on the provision of construction equipment for Road Network Improvement/Implementation and Disaster Quick Response Operation under the Economic and Social Development Programme.
