TOKYO, JAPAN – The Philippines and Japan are gearing up for deeper security ties and stronger cooperation with the United States, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at the documents exchange ceremony on Thursday.
Facing the Philippine and Japanese journalists at the Prime Minister’s Office, the Japanese leader said he and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have begun talks on how their two governments can make their security cooperation tangible alongside the US.
“We will look into ways to promote our defense equipment and technology cooperation and to strengthen cooperation amongst Japan, the United States, and the Philippines,” Kishida said.
He added that he will discuss ways with Marcos on how their governments can collaborate in securing the Indo-Pacific region.
“Recognizing the severe and complex international situations, we plan to have an in-depth exchange of views on regional and international situations including our collaboration towards realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he said.
At the ceremony, Kishida welcomed the signing of the Terms of Reference on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief of the Japan Self-Defense Forces or SDF—an agreement that would allow joint drills in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief by the Japanese and Philippine military.
“With regards to our security cooperation, I explained to the President such matters as Japan’s national security strategy and the President welcomed Japan’s commitment to the free and open international order based on rules,” he said.
“The President and I welcomed the signing of the TOR concerning the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief activities of the Japan SDF and agreed to continue exploring a framework to strengthen and facilitate such activities as joint exercises,” he added.
For Marcos, the signing of the TOR concerning activities of the Japan SDF underscored the two nations’ “joint efforts to value human lives above all and to ensure that we remain resilient and responsive amidst natural and man-made disasters.”
“The Prime Minister and I have agreed to cooperate even more closely in areas of economic cooperation, security, and defense cooperation, maritime security and safety, healthcare mechanisms, environmental commitments, and people-to-people exchanges,” he said.
“Furthermore, there are cultural cooperation, regional peace initiatives, and nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, amongst others.”
In an interview a day prior, Marcos said the Japanese government has not indicated yet its intention to pursue a visiting forces agreement with Manila.
A VFA with Japan, which the Philippines currently has with the US and Australia, would allow Japanese forces to be deployed in Manila and vice versa.
Only last week, the Philippine leader secured the commitment of United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III that the American government would assist the Philippines in modernizing its defense capabilities during the latter’s courtesy call at the Malacañang Palace in Manila.
The US defense chief vowed to help the Philippines in enhancing the interoperability of American and Filipino military forces and ultimately strengthen the relations between Washington and Manila.
More powerful defense capabilities would help the Philippines safeguard its territories from external forces, especially the disputed West Philippine Sea, analysts have said.