Marcos Jr.: Strategic ties with Japan stronger than ever

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos described the Philippines’ strategic partnership with Japan as “stronger than ever” as he wished “abundant blessings” for Japanese Emperor Naruhito on his birthday.

In his toast remarks during the celebration of the emperor’s birthday and national day of Japan in Taguig last Wednesday, Marcos vowed to sustain the “positive trajectory” of Manila’s ties with Tokyo, its oldest strategic partner. He noted that Japan has been “many things” to the Philippines over the years.??

“The breadth and depth of our engagement with Japan is a partnership for peace and progress, not only for Japan but certainly for the Philippines. Our strategic partnership is indeed stronger than ever,” the President said.

“Japan has been a friend, a neighbor, a strategic partner. Japan has been one of our steadfast partners in the efforts to realize the Philippines’ transformative agenda – in infrastructure, in social inclusion, in defense, to name but a few,” he added.

Marcos, who undertook a five-day official visit to Japan this month, also cited what he described as the “vibrant” people-to-people cooperation in tourism and labor exchanges between Manila and Tokyo. He also praised Japan for its continuous support for peace and development in Mindanao and affirmed the Philippines commitment to the “enduring friendship and camaraderie” between the two countries.

The President also gave his well wishes for the emperor, whose birthday is a national holiday in Japan.

“I wish abundant happiness and blessings to His Majesty The Emperor as he leads Japan to continued prosperity and the promotion of peace,” Marcos said.

The reigning Japanese emperor was born on Feb. 23, 1960.

Marcos made an official visit in Japan from Feb. 8 to 12 to reestablish the Philippines’ connection with its strategic partner and to promote Manila as an investment destination. One of the highlights of the official visit was the meeting of Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos with the emperor and Empress Masako. During the imperial audience, Marcos invited the emperor and empress to visit Manila and affirmed the Philippines’ commitment to enhance its close friendship with Japan.

Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also witnessed the signing of seven bilateral agreements on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, infrastructure, agriculture and digital cooperation during the official visit.

There are about 300,000 Filipinos living and working in Japan.

Stands with Philippines

For its part, Japan stands with the Philippines in maintaining a stable regional order for a free Indo-Pacific amid tensions over Chinese expansion, the Japanese envoy said.

In his remarks on Wednesday night, Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa stated Tokyo’s commitment before President Marcos who attended the reception for the emperor’s birthday and Japanese national day.

“On our defense and security ties, Japan stands with the Philippines in maintaining a stable regional order to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific founded on universal values of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law,” Koshikawa said.

Both countries are locked in territorial disputes with China – the Philippines in the South China Sea and Japan over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

A proposed trilateral defense pact among the Philippines, Japan and the United States was discussed during a meeting between Prime Minister Kishida and Marcos during the President’s visit to Tokyo.

Te ambassador cited the close cooperation between the Japan Self-Defense Force and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as well as the Japan Coast Guard and Philippine Coast Guard in order “to protect our global commons and shared security interests.”

“The world today is facing unprecedented challenges from the pandemic and geopolitical shifts. As His Majesty the Emperor said in his New Year’s message, global cooperation is vital now more than ever to address urgent issues and protect universal values that underpin peace, progress, and stability in the international community,” he said.

Koshikawa also said that both countries have made “significant strides in our economic cooperation since 2019.

“Currently, Japan is also the largest donor of Official Development Assistance to the Philippines. Our firm resolve to strengthen our economic ties translates to various ODA-funded projects spanning multiple sectors,” he said.

Japan’s assistance, through a variety of ODA support, provide the Philippine government funds to build quality infrastructure utilizing Japanese state-of-the-art technologies and expertise from years of railway experience in its design, construction and operation stages.

Japan is seen as having a key role keeping Southeast Asia from falling into debt traps.

The Philippines was repeatedly warned about falling into Chinese debt trap involving the injudicious use of loans from China. – Pia Lee-Brago