Tells Congress ties with PH, US must be boosted
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio told the Philippine Congress on Saturday that the international order, based on the rule of law, is “under serious threat,” and reaffirmed his government’s efforts to address challenges hounding the international community.
Before a special joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate, Kishida said the trilateral cooperation between Japan, the Philippines, and the United States must be strengthened to protect freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, part of which the Philippines calls the West Philippine Sea.
“In order to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law, multi-layered cooperation among allies and like-minded countries is crucial. In September, President [Ferdinand] Marcos [Jr.], US Vice President [Kamala] Harris, and I exchanged views for the first time and confirmed to enhance cooperation,” Kishida said.
“In addition to the participation of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces in the joint US-Philippines [Balikatan] exercises held last month, the first joint exercise by the coast guard agencies of the three countries was held in June this year. Through these efforts, let us protect the maritime order, which is governed by laws and rules, not by force,” he told Philippine lawmakers.
His message, a day after being welcomed by President Marcos at Malacanang, came as Japan and the Philippines confirmed they will start negotiations for a defense pact that would allow the countries to deploy troops on each other’s territory.
“We concurred with President Marcos to commence formal negotiations on a Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA). Japan intends to further deepen strategic cooperation with the Philippines in the future,” he added.
Japan will provide the Philippines with a coastal radar surveillance system as part of a 600-million-yen ($4 million) security assistance package, the leaders said.
Kishida is the first Japanese prime minister to visit the Philippines since 2017.
Tokyo and Manila — longtime allies of the United States — are deepening their defense cooperation as they seek to counter China’s growing military pressure.
The accord would create the legal basis for the countries to send defense personnel to each other’s territory for training and other operations.
The Philippines and Japan both have sea disputes with China.
In another development, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Japanese government’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLITT) signed a landmark agreement that would expand opportunities for tourism development between the two countries.
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the memorandum of cooperation with Japan will “usher in further tourism development in the fields of sustainability, air and sea connectivity, education, human capital development, culture, gastronomy, nature and adventure.”
Frasco and MLIT Minister Tetsuo Saito signed the agreement before Mr. Marcos and Kishida at Malacanang on Friday night.
NEW JAPAN-PH DEALS
• Start of negotiations for Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA)
• 600-million-yen (US$4 million or P200 million) security assistance package
• Warning and control radar system for Philippine Air Force
• Coastal surveillance radars for Philippine Navy
• Heavy equipment for disaster management in Mindanao
• Ongoing donation of 12 ships to the Philippine Coast Guard
• Memorandum of cooperation on bilateral tourism development