MANILA — The Philippines and Japan on Thursday affirmed their dedication to strengthen protection and safety cooperation throughout President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s five-day official journey to Tokyo.
In a joint assertion, Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida mentioned this may be carried out by “strategic reciprocal port calls and aircraft visits, transfer of more defense equipment and technology, continuous cooperation on previously-transferred defense equipment and capacity building.”
“In concrete terms, the leaders affirmed to strengthen efforts to complete transfer of air-surveillance radars systems, and for its related personnel training,” the assertion learn.
Marcos referred to Japan’s helpful protection gear switch program, and the potential for deepening collaboration, joint work, and interoperability.
Terms of reference
The two leaders additionally welcomed the signing of the Terms of Reference (TOR) regarding Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Activities of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) within the Republic of the Philippines.
The TOR goals to simplify the procedures for visits to the Philippines by the JSDF, as one of many efforts to boost and facilitate cooperation on HADR.
“The leaders concurred to continue to consider ways to further advance defense cooperation including through frameworks that will enhance and facilitate education and training exchanges as well as reciprocal visits of defense and military officials,” the assertion learn.
Aside from protection, different bilateral paperwork and agreements signed throughout Marcos’ official journey to Japan are cooperations in infrastructure growth, agriculture, and data and communications expertise.
Marcos and Kishida additionally welcomed the progress of bilateral protection exchanges reminiscent of by the Vice Minister’s Defense Dialogue in December 2022, Staff Talks in July 2022, Japan-Philippines Military-to-Military Meeting (MM) in October 2022.
Marcos, likewise, welcomed Japan’s intention to ascertain a brand new cooperation framework for the advantage of armed forces and different associated organizations of recipient international locations for the aim of deepening safety cooperation.
Maritime dialogue
Marcos and Kishida additionally reaffirmed efforts to bolster Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and maritime legislation enforcement based mostly on worldwide legislation, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), for the soundness within the South China Sea and the Sulu-Celebes Seas, and their surrounding areas.
They affirmed the significance of normal bilateral engagements by the Maritime Dialogue, for maritime coverage coordination and the efficient pursuit of tasks and actions, whose fifth assembly is anticipated within the first quarter of 2023.
Marcos welcomed Japan’s assist to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) by means of implementing the memorandum of cooperation (MOC) on coast guard affairs in January 2017.
He thanked Kishida for the coaching and scholarships for PCG personnel and staff-to-staff packages by the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) and the continued dispatch of JICA specialists.
The two leaders additionally dedicated to strengthening information switch and sharing Japan’s finest practices, together with by the “SAPPHIRE” in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard.
Marcos additionally expressed satisfaction with concrete tasks for the enhancement of maritime legislation enforcement capabilities, reminiscent of the event of a PCG Subic Bay assist base, which may function the house of Japan-made 97-meter-class patrol vessels, and the set up of a satellite tv for pc communications system on patrol vessels. (PNA)