Marcos: PH, Japan to elevate ties to 'comprehensive strategic partnership'

The Philippines and Japan are poised to elevate its ties to a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday.

In his remarks before the members of the Japanese House of Councilors at the First Members Building in Tokyo, Marcos stressed that “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.”

“For the Philippines, and I believe for Japan as well, this moment calls not for retreat nor hesitation, but for deeper engagement with one another and with like-minded partners around the world,” the President said.

“It is in this context that the Philippines and Japan are moving to elevate our relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the highest tier in our diplomatic framework, and a first for the Philippines,” he added.

The Chief Executive said this is an indication of the “exceptional level of trust between our two countries” and the common resolve to “further deepen cooperation” in addressing both challenges and opportunities.

The Philippines and Japan are marking the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations this year, which Marcos said is a symbol of “reconciliation, trust, and shared purpose.”

He added that the two nations, as maritime democracies, both believe that maritime security is crucial to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

He said their cooperation continue “to be guided by our shared outlook, values, and responsibilities as maritime democracies.”

“Like Japan, the Philippines believes that maritime security is an essential pillar of a free, open, and inclusive region. As recent developments have shown, the world cannot afford to have our waterways disrupted or placed at risk, given their vital role in sustaining global trade, energy flows, and economic stability,” the President said.

“These realities underscore the importance of strengthening our defense and security cooperation,” he added.

Marcos noted that the growing collaboration of the Philippines and Japan is operationalized through the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) and the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA).

He added that the Philippines’ designation as a recipient of Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) program for the third straight year “continues to contribute to our country’s maritime domain awareness and our overall maritime security.”

The President said their defense industry collaboration “also creates new opportunities for knowledge and technology exchange, and for workforce development.”

“Complementing this strong security partnership is a robust and enduring economic relationship. Japan remains one of the Philippines’ most important partners in terms of trade and investment,” Marcos said.

He pointed out that no other country has matched Japan “in the scale and quality of its development assistance to the Philippines,” such as long-term investments in human security in Mindanao.

The President also pointed to vast potential for collaboration in clean energy, digital transformation, critical minerals, artificial intelligence (AI), and space cooperation. — JMA, GMA News