MANILA – The Philippines and Japan haven’t any formal talks but on a potential visiting forces settlement (VFA), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. stated Wednesday.
Marcos made this comment after the Department of National Defense introduced that it’s eyeing a VFA with Japan, to make it the third nation with which the nation has the kind of settlement subsequent to the United States and Australia.
Despite the dearth of dialogue between the 2 international locations on the VFA, Marcos cited Japan’s help in serving to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) by way of capacity-building which incorporates offering gear.
“Yung support nila sa Coast Guard, matagal na ‘yan (They have long been supporting the Coast Guard), that kind of cooperation has been ongoing. Siguro sa kanilang palagay (Perhaps to them), the next step is to the improvement, rehabilitation in Subic, para nga sa Coast Guard (for the Coast Guard),” Marcos stated in an interview with reporters whereas on board a flight to Japan.
Last month, the federal government submitted a proposal to Japan for constructing a PCG facility in Subic Bay.
Former Department of Defense officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr. stated each international locations want to have a VFA in order that Japanese troops can conduct workout routines with their Philippine counterparts.
The PCG introduced its plan to buy extra ships from Japan that may complement the BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) and BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702), its largest and most superior belongings.
Marcos, likewise, underscored the significance of boosting protection cooperation with the nation’s long-time ally.
“Naturally, the reason behind all this is they would like to have more patrols along… South China Sea para naman (so that) we can assure the freedom of passage,” he stated.
He added that fostering stronger cooperation with Japan will even assist the nation obtain its aim of repeatedly modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
“So, this is a new element to our relationship because we’re now talking about the security of the region. So being, of course, all interested in the same thing, i.e., security in the region, I think cooperation is not a bad thing,” he stated.
Marcos is presently in Japan for a five-day official go to from Feb. 8 to 12 to forge nearer political ties, stronger protection and safety cooperation, in addition to lasting financial partnerships.
More agri-biz investments
Meanwhile, Marcos expressed optimism about attracting extra agri-business offers from Japan.
“Well, number one, that opens up hindi lamang (it won’t just be) the usual exchange of technology, but that’s an important part of it, but also investment in agriculture and hopefully opening markets in Japan for our agricultural products,” he stated, referring to key offers anticipated to be signed between the Philippines and Japan, which embrace an settlement in agricultural cooperation.
He stated he can be holding conferences with varied Japanese officers and enterprise leaders to seal extra investments and forge enterprise relations.
“So that’s a very wide-ranging discussion. So yes, we hope to do a lot in that regard para ma-accelerate ‘yung ating (to accelerate our) agricultural development,” he added.
Japan is the one nation with which the Philippines has a bilateral free commerce settlement (FTA) known as the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
In 2021, Japan was the Philippines’ second-largest buying and selling associate in addition to the third-largest export market and the second-top supply of imports. (PNA)