Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is receiving an exceptional level of hospitality, which included a palace banquet during a four-day state visit to Japan that culminated on Thursday.
The visit sends a clear message that Tokyo is keen to upgrade ties with a nation it sees as a key defence partner and major arms customer at a time of fears over China’s military activity in Asia.
Marcos’ visit, which ends with his departure Friday, included a meeting on Wednesday with Emperor Naruhito, who gave him the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, one of Japan’s highest decorations. On Thursday, Marcos held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, agreeing to further strengthen cooperation in defense and weapons as well as other areas.
Both nations have China firmly in mind as they tighten a military relationship that the United States hopes will act as a bulwark against Beijing’s ambitions in the East and South China Seas and its designs on Taiwan, the self-governing island China claims as its own.
In his address to the Upper House of the Japanese parliament earlier on Thursday, Marcos said his country and Japan “chose reconciliation over division and cooperation over indifference”, overcoming the scars of Japanese wartime aggression. That choice still defines their partnership today “in an increasingly complex Indo-Pacific, where tensions test the resilience of rules-based order”, he said.
Marcos said they have “significant potential for deeper collaboration” in defence, economic security and other global challenges”. “We must work together to reduce undue dependencies and ensure that progress is not held hostage to disruptions or to coercion.”
Arms sales on agenda
Marcos is the first potential major customer of Japanese arms since Takaichi’s government scrapped a ban on lethal weapons exports. The change in April was a break from Japan’s post-war pacifist policy as the nation accelerates its military and arms industry buildup.
The nations agreed to pursue negotiations on a sale of multiple Abukuma-class destroyers and Japanese navy TC-90 training aircraft. Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro Jr, who observed joint live-fire exercises with his Japanese counterpart earlier this month, also expressed interest in Type-88 surface-to-ship missiles.
Japanese officials say Marcos' state visit also is linked to the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries and to the Philippines this year holding the rotating presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Military intelligence-sharing
Marcos and Takaichi also are expected to arrange formal talks meant to achieve a military intelligence sharing pact, which would enable closer communication and help tighten trilateral military cooperation with the US, their mutual ally. Japan has provided a set of five coastal surveillance radars to the Philippines as part of official security assistance and intelligence-sharing would enhance reconnaissance cooperation.
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