On Thursday, July 4th, the Tokyo ambassador to Manila stated that negotiations between Japan and the Philippines on the Reciprocal Access Agreement regarding defense and security are nearing completion.
According to Reuters, Ambassador Kazuya Endo mentioned in a speech that the role of the Philippines in maintaining regional stability and security is undeniably important.
He also mentioned that there is potential for significant progress in the transfer of defense equipment.
The foreign and defense ministers of Japan and the Philippines are set to hold talks in Manila on July 8th, with discussions possibly including a groundbreaking defense agreement allowing military access to each other’s territories.
The Philippines has been enhancing its relationships with neighboring and other countries to address the escalating conflicts with China in the South China Sea.
Endo emphasized that maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is crucial for the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.
In May this year, amid increased Chinese intrusion in the South China Sea, Japan agreed to provide the Philippines with a low-interest loan of approximately $400 million for the acquisition of five patrol vessels. Since 2016, Japan has provided the Philippine Coast Guard with 12 patrol vessels, including two 97-meter vessels, the largest in the Manila fleet.
During the loan signing ceremony in Manila, Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo stated that Japan is expected to deliver an additional five large vessels of this type by 2028, which will enhance the coast guard’s maritime monitoring, response, and enforcement capabilities to ensure a safer and more secure maritime domain for our people and those transiting through our waters.
Ambassador Kazuya Endo pledged support for the Philippine Coast Guard’s capacity-building program, stating, “Given the continuing tensions in the vicinity of the Philippines, the Coast Guard stands at the forefront, protecting our shared interests and rule-based maritime order.”
In April this year, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, and U.S. President Joe Biden held a trilateral summit in Washington. The three leaders expressed their commitment to advancing a shared vision based on the international laws and rules in the free and open Indo-Pacific region for the coming decades.
The South China Sea is a critical passage for over $3 trillion in annual shipping trade. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, while countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei claim sovereignty over parts of the region. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China’s claims have no legal basis.