JAPAN has pledged to strengthen defense cooperation with the Philippines by providing military equipment and technology to enhance security and defense capabilities.
The commitment was made after a meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Thursday.
In a joint statement, the two nations vowed to step up collaboration to facilitate the transfer of defense equipment, including destroyers, TC-90 aircraft and radar systems.
This was in accordance with their agreement concerning the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology, and the Official Security Assistance of a collaborative effort to enhance defense capabilities and strengthen security cooperation.
Takaichi reaffirmed Tokyo’s pledge to contribute to the capacity-building of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, especially in the maritime area.
The Philippines welcomed Japan’s newly revised Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology, and its implementation guidelines, acknowledging that such efforts contribute to regional peace and stability.
Marcos and Takaichi recognized that closer defense cooperation in recent years has laid “a robust foundation for their bilateral partnership.”
They agreed to the early convening of the next Philippines-Japan “2+2” (Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting) to strengthen strategic coordination and ensure effective high-level policy discussions.
The two leaders also stressed the need to advance maritime cooperation, considering that the Philippines and Japan are “neighbors connected by the sea.”
They acknowledged that enhancing maritime cooperation, underpinned by respect for international law, promotes peace, stability and mutual trust.
Marcos thanked Japan for its continued support in building up the Philippine Coast Guard through the provision of patrol ships.
Marcos and Takaichi also emphasized the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, lawful uses of the sea, unimpeded commerce and the peaceful resolution of maritime disputes, in accordance with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).
They expressed “serious concern” over maritime disputes in the East China Sea and the South China Sea (SCS), reaffirming their “strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the peacefully established status quo by force or coercion.”
The two reaffirmed the universal and unified character of Unclos as the comprehensive legal framework governing all activities in the oceans and seas.
They also acknowledged the need for an “effective and substantive” Code of Conduct to “effectively govern the behavior of parties at sea” without prejudice to the legitimate rights and interests of all actors navigating the SCS.
The two leaders reiterated their support for the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, which is final and legally binding on the parties to the dispute,” the joint statement read.
“Noting that 10 years have passed since the issuance of the Award, the two leaders reaffirmed the importance of international law and compliance of the parties to the dispute with decisions and rulings duly rendered through compulsory dispute settlement mechanisms under Unclos.”
On Friday, China expressed strong opposition to the decision by Japan and the Philippines to start maritime border negotiations, calling the talks “illegal” and claiming exclusive control over the waters concerned.
Beijing asserted it has an “exclusive economic zone and continental shelf” in the waters to the east of Taiwan.
“China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to this,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular news conference when asked about the delimitation talks between Tokyo and Manila.
“China solemnly declares that the so-called delimitation negotiations between Japan and the Philippines are entirely illegal and invalid,” Mao said.
Beijing has “lodged solemn representations” with both countries, she added.
Manila and Tokyo’s shared grievances over Chinese maritime territorial claims have seen them draw increasingly close in recent years.
Japan and China are in territorial and economic disputes in the East China Sea, where coastguard ships from both sides routinely stage dangerous standoffs.
Beijing has meanwhile deployed navy and coast guard vessels in the SCS, in a bid to bar the Philippines from strategically important reefs and islands, leading to a string of confrontations.
Earlier in Tokyo, Marcos and Sasakawa Peace Foundation honorary chairman Yohei Sasakawa agreed to enhance cooperation on maritime security, sustainable ocean governance, peace-building, eradication of leprosy and digital innovation.
