The Philippines and Japan have agreed to bolster their defense and security relations through reciprocal port calls as well as the transfer of defense equipment.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said this following their bilateral meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office here.

In a joint press occasion following their meeting, both Asian leaders said they have agreed to bolster Manila and Tokyo’s defense and security relations to “increase the defense capabilities of their own countries and further strengthen overall security cooperation”.

They also agreed to continue exploring a framework to strengthen and facilitate such activities as joint exercises.

“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,” Kishida said.

“We will also look into ways to promote our defense equipment and technology cooperation and to strengthen cooperation amongst Japan, the United States, and the Philippines,” he added.

According to the two leaders’ joint press statement, enhancing the defense and security ties between the Philippines and Japan would be through strategic reciprocal port calls and aircraft visits, the transfer of more defense equipment and technology, continuous cooperation on previously-transferred defense equipment, and capacity building.

“In concrete terms, the leaders affirmed to strengthen efforts to complete transfer of air-surveillance radar systems, and for its related personnel training,” the statement read.

The leaders also welcomed the signing of the terms of reference concerning Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) activities of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) in the Philippines, which aims to simplify the procedures for visits to the Philippines by the JSDF as one of the efforts to enhance and facilitate cooperation on HADR.

President Marcos and Prime Minister Kishida also concurred to continue to consider ways to “further advance defense cooperation including through frameworks that will enhance and facilitate education and training exchanges as well as reciprocal visits of defense and military officials”.

President Marcos referred to Japan’s useful defense equipment transfer program and the potential for deepening collaboration, joint work, and interoperability.

The two leaders also welcomed the progress of bilateral defense exchanges, such as through the Vice Minister’s Defense Dialogue in December 2022, Staff Talks in July 2022, and the Japan-Philippines Military-to-Military Meeting in October 2022.

The Filipino leader also welcomed Japan’s intention to establish a new cooperation framework to benefit the armed forces and other related organizations of recipients to deepen security cooperation.

Talks about the defense ties between the two countries came after the Philippines expressed the desire to have visiting forces agreement with Japan.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Argyll Cyrus Geducos

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