President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attends the kickoff of the Asean-Japan Summit in Tokyo on December 17, 2023. Photo from PCO
TOKYO, Japan — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has underscored the significance of the Philippines forging bilateral and multilateral collaborations to help the country respond to prevailing and foreseen needs.
In a conversation with members of the Japanese media here, Marcos was asked how Tokyo and Manila have grown their relationship over the past decades to which the President replied: through increased cooperation.
“This alliance that we have come together with Japan is again [is] to help us […] work together more closely. Because in the military, since there is a tactical operation […] we really have to train with one another,” he explained.
“It is not sufficient actually with just Japan and the Philippines to enter into this agreement. We really must get more of these [kinds] of arrangements in place,” he added.
According to the Palace, Marcos is referring to the Philippines’ trilateral agreement with Japan and the United States (US). In December, the US, Japan, and the Philippines vowed to strengthen cooperation following China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
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The Philippines was also a recipient of Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA).
In November, the Philippines received an OSA grant worth P235 million for a coastal radar system. The security grant comes amid increasing tensions in the West Philippine Sea, with China’s aggressive incursion and intimidation within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
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Marcos attended the primary day of the 50th Commemorative Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-Japan Friendship and Cooperation Summit.
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Prior to Marcos’ engagements during the primary day of the Asean-Japan Summit, he attended a dinner banquet hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio at the State Guest House, Akasaka Palace.
Other Asean leaders in the conference were current Asean chair Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Brunei Darussalam Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, and Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, among others.