Japanese foreign minister to visit Manila next week

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and Japan are again scheduled to hold high-level talks next week to discuss matters of mutual concern, including defense and security.

Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi will be visiting Manila on Jan. 14 and 15 upon the invitation of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.

The two are set to hold a bilateral meeting to discuss political, defense, security, economic and development cooperation, among other issues.

Iwaya and Manalo, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs, will likewise be exchanging views on regional and international developments.

“Amidst an increasingly complex security environment, the Philippines and Japan are expected to reaffirm the mutual commitment to further enhancing the ‘Strengthened Strategic Partnership’ between the two countries and to seize new opportunities for cooperation,” part of the announcement on the official visit released yesterday read.

In July 2024, the Philippines and Japan signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), which will firmly contribute toward maintaining a secure and peaceful Asia-Pacific.

The deal is expected to boost defense relations between the Philippines and Japan, heightening defense and security cooperation between the two countries and enhancing the interoperability between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

The RAA is set to be approved by the Japanese government’s National Diet, in accordance with Japan’s domestic legal process, to render it valid and binding upon both countries.

Japan has been building the newest and largest ships of the Philippine Coast Guard, a key element of Manila’s efforts to assert its sovereignty in the South China Sea.

Last month, Tokyo granted Manila 1.6 billion yen ($10.6 million) aimed at beefing up its naval capabilities through their Official Security Assistance program launched in 2023.

The Philippines and Japan will be celebrating the 70th year of the normalization of bilateral relations in 2026.