The Philippines and Japan on Thursday vowed to enhance cooperation to maintain peace and security, stability and rule of law in the region despite ongoing maritime disputes with China.
“We committed to continue our cooperation—bilaterally and in all possible forums—to maintain peace and security, stability, and the rule of law in our region,” Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said, in his speech during a joint press briefing with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu.
Locsin admitted he had “candid exchanges” on various issues, including the situation in the West Philippine Sea, with Motegi, in Manila for a two-day visit.
Manila is locked in a long-running maritime dispute with Beijing over parts of the country’s exclusive economic zone, while Japan has ownership dispute with China over Senkaku island.
Locsin admitted the Philippines and Japan held bilateral discussion on defense and security cooperation.
Tokyo even committed to provide maritime assets to Manila, he said.
“I thank Japan for supporting our acquisition of new air and maritime assets and equipment to enhance our maritime domain awareness and capability as well as law enforcement and humanitarian responses,” Locsin stressed.
The Foreign Affairs secretary also said that both countries have discussed future acquisitions “in aid of the modernization of our armed forces and maritime forces.”
Locsin said the country’s relations with Japan had entered a “golden age” and Motegi’s visit added “further luster” to that friendship, “which remains one of the region’s closest and strongest.”
For his part, Motegi described the Philippines as “an important strategic partner that holds the key to realizing the free and open Indo-Pacific concept advocated by Japan.”
“Secretary Locsin and I were able to deepen our discussion from such perspectives and agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in wide areas including security and enforcement of the laws of the seas,” Motegi said.
President Rodrigo Duterte maintains close ties with China despite tensions in the South China Sea.
China claims most of the contested waters, including the West Philippine Sea, and has rejected a ruling from a UN-backed international tribunal that invalidated its assertion to the Sea.
Besides China, Philippines, four other countries—Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan—have territorial claims over disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, which is believed to be Asia’s next potential flashpoint for a major armed conflict.
Locsin and Motegi said they also discussed moves to strengthen economic cooperation between two countries, particularly the implementation of some infrastructure projects, including Japanese investment in the country’s mas railway system.
According to Locsin, Japan’s construction of the Philippines’s first subway and the North-South Commuter Railway “will see the revival of the age of rail” in the country.
During the bilateral talks, Locsin and Motegi also signed and exchanged notes on Japan’s provision of additional 4.4 billion yen or about P2 billion to fortify the earthquake-prone bridges of Lambingan and Guadalupe.
“I welcomed Minister Motegi’s pledge of continued, substantial financial and technical support, under the most concessional terms as only Japan can offer, as the Duterte administration goes into the final push in our infrastructure drive,” Locsin said.
Philippines-Japan strategic partnership “has been a positive force” not just for the country’s development and security, but in the best interest of the region, Locsin stressed.