MANILA – Japan will continue to carry out its “responsibility” of enhancing security and defense cooperation with the Philippines, amidst the current increasing uncertainty of the regional and global situation.
During his courtesy call with Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines ENDO Kazuya emphasized Japan’s role in ensuring peace and stability in the region.
Ambassador Endo also mentioned that Japan will work with “like-minded” countries like the U.S. and Australia as part of its responsibility to address the growing uncertainties the region and the world is facing.
Japan’s top diplomat in the Philippines also welcomed the demonstration of unity among like-minded countries through the Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) held last April and the Defense Ministerial meeting between Japan, the Philippines, U.S. and Australia in May.
Earlier, in a joint statement, the Defense Ministers of Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the United States announced the conduct of the MCA which was participated by combined defense/armed forces of the four nations within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone last April 7, 2024.
Meanwhile, Secretary Teodoro welcomed Ambassador Endo and expressed his appreciation for Japan’s support to the Philippines through the Official Security Assistance (OSA).
(Photo courtesy of Department of National Defense)
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, “the OSA was established in 2023 as a new cooperation framework for the benefit of the armed forces and other related organizations of recipient countries with the aim of deepening our security cooperation with the countries, creating a desirable security environment, and contributing to maintaining and strengthening international peace and security, by enhancing their security and deterrence capabilities through the provision of equipment and supplies as well as assistance for the development of infrastructures.”
The signing and exchange of notes for the OSA to the Philippines worth JPY 600 million was held in a ceremony attended by the former Ambassador of Japan KOSHIKAWA Kazuhiko and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo.
The ceremony was witnessed by Japan Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. last November 2023.
Both Endo and Teodoro also agreed to continue close coordination to reach an early conclusion of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) and reaffirmed to further enhance cooperation in maintaining and strengthening the maritime security and regional order based on the rule of law.
