PH boosts ties with Japan, Germany

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said bilateral relations with Japan have now expanded to cover issues concerning security and defense, including ensuring freedom of navigation in the South China Sea amid overlapping claims with Beijing and other neighboring countries.

“In the past, it could be said that the largest part of our interaction between our two countries were always in terms of trade, in terms of development, in terms of ODA [Official Development Assistance],” the President said during the courtesy call of Komeito Party Chief Representative Yamaguchi Natsuo in Malacañang on Wednesday.

“But I suppose that now times have changed and those agreements have gone beyond just trade, just business, just investment. And we now have to concern ourselves with issues of security and defense in our region,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Philippines and Germany on Thursday agreed to build stronger ties on climate cooperation while boosting people-to-people relations.

“I always describe it as really the first truly global problem that humanity faces because it’s global in the sense that everybody is affected. And it’s also global because we cannot solve it without everybody doing their part,” Mr. Marcos said during the presentation of credentials of new German Ambassador to Manila Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke.

The two countries recently signed a Joint Declaration of Intent on Interdepartmental Consultations for Bilateral Technical Cooperation Projects in the Fields of Climate, Energy, and Biodiversity.

Mr. Marcos said stronger ties between the nations would “greatly benefit both countries” in promoting the climate agenda.

Meanwhile, the President cited Japan’s role in preserving peace in the region.

“We must acknowledge the very important contributions that Japan has made to the Philippines in terms of not only training, not only in terms of equipment but also in the agreements that we have been able to forge between our two countries in terms of cooperation, in terms of preserving the peace and allowing the free conduct of trade and shipping the South China Sea,” he said.

Natsuo responded that the Komeito Party is open to more cooperation with the Philippines, not only in its traditional partnerships but also in defense and maritime security corporations.

“So Japan actively supports the Philippines into entering the upper-middle income countries, public and private sectors, and also we would like to see many cooperation, not only in defense cooperation but also maritime security cooperation, also in agriculture areas,” he said.

Since Japan relaxed its restrictions on foreign defense equipment and technology transfers in 2014, the Philippines has benefited from various acquisitions and procurements of defense assets under a Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology Agreement signed in February 2016.

Some of the transfers made include UH-1H helicopter spare parts and maintenance equipment, HADR equipment, and Air Surveillance Radar System, among others. Japan also helped the country strengthen its capacity in maritime surveillance, particularly through the provision of radar systems for the Philippine Coast Guard.

The PCG is also set to receive a state-of-the-art satellite communication system from Japan that would help improve its capacity to monitor and obtain a better picture of the Philippines’ vast maritime jurisdiction, particularly in the West Philippine Sea.

“It is axiomatic to me to say that no country can do this alone. The economy, climate change, energy, all of these things have to be done in partnership. So, let’s look in that direction Mr. Ambassador,” he said.

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