Philippines, Japan to boost defense cooperation

TOKYO, May 28 ------ President Marcos called for enhanced defense cooperation and partnerships bound by shared values, saying the present era of disruptions and geopolitical tensions is not a time for retreat but for a “deeper engagement” with like-minded parties.

In remarks delivered during a meeting with the Japan-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship League here, Marcos said recent developments have shown that the world cannot afford to have waterways disrupted or placed at risk, given their vital role in sustaining global trade, energy flows and economic stability. “These realities underscore the importance of strengthening our defense and security cooperation,” the President said.

According to him, the Philippines reaffirms the importance of the centrality and unity of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in shaping a regional architecture that is “open, inclusive and rules-based.” On the bilateral level, the Philippines’ cooperation with Japan continues to be guided by shared outlook, values and responsibilities as maritime democracies, Marcos added. “Like Japan, the Philippines believes that maritime security is an essential pillar of a free, open and inclusive region,” the Chief Executive said.

Marcos said the two countries’ collaboration in defense is operationalized through agreements such as the Reciprocal Access Agreement and the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement. Both the Philippines and Japan are embroiled in longstanding disputes with China, whose aggressive actions in disputed areas have raised concerns among its neighbors.

The Philippines and China’s maritime row involve portions of the South China Sea, a strategic sea lane where over $5 trillion in shipments passes through every year. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims in the resource-rich area. In 2016, a Hague-based arbitral court voided China’s maritime claim and affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone, but Beijing refused to recognize the ruling.

Japan also has a row with China over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. Marcos did not mention China in his speech, but in a media interview before arriving here, he pointed out that Japan and the Philippines have common experiences when it comes to “coercive acts.”

In the same speech, Marcos said the international system is undergoing a “profound transformation,” with regions seeing “increasing geopolitical tensions, disruptions in supply chains and mounting pressures on the rules-based international order. In such an environment, the importance of trusted partnerships that are anchored in shared values, mutual respect and adherence to international law has never been more evident,” the President said.

Source: philstar.com