THE Japanese government has offered to help the Philippine government curb transnational crimes, particularly piracy and kidnapping at sea.
In the recent fifth vice-ministerial meeting in Tokyo, Japan, Japanese deputy defense minister Ro Manabe made the offer to defense undersecretary Ricardo David Jr. in connection with the ongoing trilateral cooperation among the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.
David said Japan expressed readiness to contribute to the trilateral cooperation while acknowledging Japan’s contribution to the capability upgrade of Philippine defense forces specifically the lease of five TC-90 surveillance aircraft for maritime use.
Japan has transferred two of 10 40-meter vessels to the Philippine Coast Guard aside from the two 295-foot multi-role response vessels set to deliver this year.
Japan vowed to support the Philippines capacity building relating to maritime security amid the growing tension in the West Philippine Sea following China’s aggressive action in at least seven reefs that has been converted into military garrison.
Manabe also reiterated Japan’s intention to promote defense cooperation with Asean member states while at the same time ready to pursue deeper defense support with the Philippines through defense equipage transfer.
Japan is also interested in having an exercises with Philippine forces, but both countries must forge first a visiting forces agreement, similar with the United States, to undertake such endeavor.
The Japanese representatives also briefed his Philippine counterpart on the latest developments in the South China Sea which Japan has monitored, assuring the Philippines that Tokyo will continue to share with Manila timely information specifically violations of the rule of law, in reference to the decision issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in July last year.