The leaders of Japan and the Philippines agreed Sunday to bolster security cooperation to help maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region amid shared concerns over China’s maritime assertiveness.
New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. held bilateral talks on the sidelines of Association of Southeast Asian Nations-related summit meetings that began the same day in Kuala Lumpur.
Takaichi said her government will work to deepen ties with the strategically important partner to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific, a vision championed by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
The Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement, which facilitates visits by their forces for joint exercises and disaster relief operations, took effect in September.
Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female prime minister last Tuesday, also expressed her intention to help strengthen the Philippine economy and infrastructure while contributing to its food security by providing equipment for post-harvest rice processing.
Marcos thanked Japan for its official development assistance and called for deeper cooperation in various areas.
The two countries will mark the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations next year, when the Philippines will serve as the ASEAN chair.
