PH, Japan to ink fresh defense, energy, trade deals during Marcos’ Tokyo trip - DFA

MANILA, May 26 ------ The Philippines and Japan will sign new defense, energy, and trade agreements during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s trip to Tokyo this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

The DFA declined to give particular details of these deals, but noted that Manila hoped to have “deeper operational cooperation in maritime and security areas.” “Mapapagusapan po ng dalawang bansa para i-implement fully yung ating defense agreements such as the Reciprocal Access Agreement na nilagdaan noong 2024, and yung agreement concerning reciprocal provision of supplies and services between the AFP and the Self-Defense Forces of Japan signed in January 2026,” said DFA spokesperson Analyn Ratonel. “Ito ay nagse-set ng basic terms para sa palitan ng supplies and services sa pagitan ng Self-Defense Forces ng Japan at ng AFP,” she said. “Ito ay nagsisilbing logistical backbone para sa joint military training, operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” she added.

Last week, Marcos told Japanese reporters that he would raise “gray zone tactics” and other “coercive actions” in the region with Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae. Takaichi — Japan’s first female prime minister — earlier drew China’s ire after she visited Taiwan and announced that Tokyo could deploy its self-defense forces to Taipei should Beijing launch an attack against the island. “Ang dalawang leaders ay expected to discuss regional and global issues kagaya ng ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nation) at challenges in the Indo-Pacific region,” she said. “Kasama na dito ang info-sharing, ang pag-collaborate ng defense agencies at ang transfer ng defense equipment,” she added.

Details of a defense transfer agreement will also be made available later this week, the DFA spokesperson said. “Ang Philippines, with the global energy crisis, ginagawa talaga natin ang paraan para long-term ang energy supply natin so naghahanap tayo ng iba’t ibang bibilhan ng langis,” she said. Marcos’ other priority topics during the 4-day state visit include discussions on trade and energy, including Japan’s $10-billion POWERR ASIA initiative, Ratonel said. “Naglalaan ng $10 billion na pwedeng gamitin ng mga bansa sa Asia para makabili at makapag angkat ng supply ng langis… madagdagan ang supply ng krudo sa rehiyon at diversification of energy resource,” she said. “Gusto natin makipagtulungan sa Japan para mapalawak pa ang renewable energy sa bansa,” she said.

Aside from his meeting with Takaichi, Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos will also attend a state banquet hosted by Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, the DFA official said. “The President and the First Lady will be received by Their Majesties The Emperor and The Empress for a welcome ceremony and a state call,” she said. “During their audience, the first couple and the imperial couple will mutually confer and exchange decorations,” she added.

The Philippine president — who will travel to Tokyo in time for the Philippines and Japan’s 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations — is also scheduled to meet with the business sector and the Filipino community there, the spokesperson said. There are 340,000 Filipinos living and working in Japan, with most of them hired as teachers, engineers and health care workers, according to data from the DFA.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com