Kishida, Marcos Confirm Expanded Security Cooperation
15:53 JST, November 4, 2023
MANILA (Jiji Press) — Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., meeting at the Malacanang Palace in Manila on Friday, confirmed the expansion of their countries’ security cooperation.
The two leaders shared serious concerns over the situation in the East and South China seas, with China’s increasingly hegemonic moves there in mind, and affirmed that Japan and the Philippines will work together to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law.
They agreed on Japan’s provision of coastal surveillance radars to the Philippines under Tokyo’s official security assistance, or OSA, scheme, which was created in fiscal 2023 to help boost the military capabilities of like-minded countries by providing defense equipment and promoting infrastructure development. The Philippines will be the first country to receive aid under the OSA scheme.
Holding a joint press conference with Marcos after the meeting, Kishida said, “In a severe and increasingly complex environment, cooperation [between Japan and the Philippines] in the security field will be deepened further.”
Marcos said that the two countries share concerns in the same areas and that it is important to resolve maritime issues peacefully through negotiations.
The two leaders also confirmed that three-way cooperation among their countries plus the United States will be strengthened.
Furthermore, they agreed to start negotiations to conclude a bilateral reciprocal access agreement, or RAA, to allow the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the Philippine military to visit each other’s country easily by simplifying the procedures for obtaining visas and bringing weapons and ammunition when entering partner countries. If concluded, the Philippines will be the third country to have an RAA with Japan after Australia and Britain, which Japan regards as “quasi-allies.”
"Politics" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Japan Ministry Concerned Over Same-Sex Couple Receiving City-Issued Resident Certificates Referring to ‘Common-Law Husband’
-
Japan Govt Predicts China’s Forces Could Land on Taiwan Within 1 Week of Enforcing Blockade; Drills Conducted in 2023 Analyzed
-
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike Wins Third Straight Term; Voters Respond to Achievements in Child Care, Education
-
Incumbent Tokyo Governor Leads as Election Day Approaches; 20% of Survey Respondents Still Undecided
-
Japan, U.S. to Compile Joint Document on Extended Deterrence; Foreign, Defense Ministers to Hold Talks
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Prices of over 10,000 Food and Beverage Items to Rise This Year; Figure is down from over 30,000 Last Year
- Sony Group to End Production of Blu-ray Discs; Market Has Shrunk Due To Growth Of Hard Disk Drives, Streaming
- Japan Ministry Concerned Over Same-Sex Couple Receiving City-Issued Resident Certificates Referring to ‘Common-Law Husband’
- Japan Court OKs Sex Change without Surgery
- Pacific Islands Leaders Not Totally in Tune on China Approach as Meeting Ends in Tokyo; Positions Differ on Treated Water, Joint Drills