Japan–Philippines Joint Statement
February 9, 2023
1. On the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Kishida Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, His Excellency Mr. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines, conducted an Official Visit to Japan on 08-12 February 2023. The visit reflected the strong and much cherished friendship between Japan and the Philippines, underscored by friendly and historical ties woven through decades of exchanges between the two peoples and upheld by shared fundamental values of freedom, democracy, respect for fundamental human rights, and the rule of law.
2. During the Summit Meeting and the Working Dinner on 9 February 2023, President Marcos and Prime Minister Kishida discussed a wide range of issues including economy, security, people-to-people exchanges, and regional and international issues to strengthen the bilateral Strategic Partnership and advance their resilience amidst the increasing complexities in the international environment.
3. The leaders committed to working towards a transformative and forward-looking partnership that will keep responding to contemporary needs and scoring practical successes.
4. The leaders shared the view that a free and open international order based on the rule of law has become more important than ever. From this point of view, the leaders reaffirmed that the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” and the “ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)” share fundamental principles. President Marcos emphasized ASEAN centrality and the AOIP as the core of the Philippines’ approach in engaging with regional partners in the Indo-Pacific, and expressed ASEAN’s call for engagements with Japan on the AOIP under ASEAN-led mechanisms, while Prime Minister Kishida reiterated Japan’s unwavering support for ASEAN unity and centrality.
Bilateral Cooperation
(a) Economic Cooperation
5. Prime Minister Kishida underscored the intention of the Government of Japan to render dynamic support for the Philippines to attain Upper Middle Income Country (UMIC) status by 2025, in line with the “Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028” through the active contribution of Official Development Assistance (ODA) and private-sector investment of JPY 600 billion in Japanese Fiscal Years 2022–2023. The leaders reaffirmed their distinct, continued commitment to facilitating the steady implementation of ongoing and future economic cooperation projects through the High Level Joint Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation toward the Philippines’ attainment of UMIC status and beyond.
6. Prime Minister Kishida expressed Japan’s intention to contribute to the development of quality transport infrastructure in the Philippines in light of the “Build Better More” program of the Marcos administration, as well as equitable regional development in the Philippines including in Mindanao.
7. The leaders welcomed the progress of the Japan-funded Metro Manila Subway Project and aimed for its inauguration during the Marcos presidency. The leaders commended the signing of the Exchange of Notes concerning yen loan provision, worth JPY 377 billion for the development of the North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and its extension. In addition, Prime Minister Kishida stated that the Government of Japan stands ready to extend an additional loan for further maintenance and rehabilitation of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3). The leaders acknowledged the importance of facilitating safe, efficient, and reliable air travel in the Philippines as part of the New Communications, Navigation and Surveillance / Air Traffic Management Systems Development Project since 2002.
8. The leaders concurred on working toward early loan provision for the construction of the Dalton Pass East Alignment Alternative Road, the Central Mindanao High-Standard Highway, and the Second San Juanico Bridge. Also, the leaders affirmed the viability of utilizing the private-public partnership (PPP) scheme in future cooperation for the construction or operation and maintenance of roads; and long-span tunnels & bridges in the Philippines, given the opportunities to leverage the technical expertise of Japanese companies. The leaders expressed hope for further implementation of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) of October 2022 for the construction and operation and maintenance of tunnels and related facilities.
9. The leaders affirmed their intention to continue collaboration on resilience-building against natural disasters and adaptation to climate change. With the view to addressing the issue of frequent floods, the leaders committed to further embankment works of the Pasig–Marikina River, preparation of the Parañaque Spillway, and formulation of new projects based on a prospective Davao Flood Control Master Plan. Prime Minister Kishida stated that the Government of Japan stands ready to extend another Post-Disaster Stand-by Loan (PDSL) to the Philippines.
10. The leaders affirmed to have the two countries work together on the "Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC)" concept, including through the AZEC Ministerial Meeting in March 2023. In addition, President Marcos acknowledged Japan’s capacity building and bilateral private-sector enterprises to introduce liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the Philippines for the country's energy transition. The leaders committed to further promoting cooperation regarding the formulation of a roadmap toward the Philippines' attainment of carbon neutrality.
11. Prime Minister Kishida expressed support for President Marcos’ priority agenda to maintain the competitiveness of Philippine agriculture and to achieve food security, while increasing farm productivity, efficiency, and farmers’ income. The leaders welcomed the signing of an MOC that provides a framework for agricultural cooperation, such as the establishment of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, exchanges on agricultural and rural development policies, and cooperation in resilient & sustainable agriculture and food systems, smart technology, strengthening food value chain, among others.
12. The leaders welcomed the signing of an MOC on ICT which will promote cooperation on digital terrestrial television broadcasting, encompassing emergency warning broadcasting system (EWBS), cybersecurity, 5G supplier diversification and development of open, secure and resilient 5G network, as well as employing cutting-edge technologies, such as 5G/Beyond 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital transformation (DX).
13. The leaders affirmed to promote concrete projects on healthcare, such as the introduction of medical services using ICT to the Philippines leveraging Japanese companies’ knowhow, and human resource development in the field of health, and support the realization of Universal Health Coverage. The leaders also expressed hope for further consultations at the Joint Committee on Philippine Healthcare, whose second meeting is scheduled for March 2023. The leaders committed to resilience-building of the Philippine health system through enhanced preparedness, response, and evaluation activities for health emergencies and further improvement of the Philippine research and laboratory network.
14. The leaders expressed hope for revitalizing the Industrial Cooperation Dialogue in the first quarter of 2023, and affirmed to deepen cooperation for the Philippines' sustainable economic development, based on the "ASIA–Japan Investing for the Future Initiative," through enhancing the region's commercial appeal as a hub of the global supply chain, such as for automotive industries, as well as promoting businesses that contribute to resolving social challenges with digitally-empowered /innovative and sustainable solutions.
15. Toward reinforcing the strength of both nations, the promotion of their values, the protection of people’s livelihood and work, and the resilience of society and its institutions, the leaders decided to strengthen cooperation in the promotion of economic security, given its impacts that extend across national security and the economy. The leaders expressed concern for and strong opposition to economic coercion used to achieve political ends, stressed the importance of an international law-based economic order, and underscored the need for close coordination in dealing with economic coercion.
16. The leaders confirmed the importance of transparent, fair development finance to achieve sustainable development in developing countries, and called on all actors to adhere to international rules and standards such as debt sustainability and enhanced transparency as well as mutual accountability.
17. The leaders expressed hope for future cooperation in science & technology in recognition of its ubiquitous application to a variety of economic activities. President Marcos expressed appreciation for the Japanese initiatives based on the MOC on space development and application since June 2021, in providing access to satellite images, space-borne data and derived products and offering scholarship programs. President Marcos expressed hope for cooperation in more fields such as space environment utilization and space situational awareness.
b) Defense and Security Cooperation
18. In light of the increasingly challenging regional security environment, the leaders affirmed their intention to enhance defense and security cooperation through bilateral consultations at all levels, including the Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (“2+2”), the Vice-Ministerial Strategic Dialogue and the Political-Military (PM) Dialogue.
19. President Marcos appreciated Prime Minister Kishida’s explanation on the new "National Security Strategy (NSS),” the “National Defense Strategy (NDS),” and the “Defense Buildup Program (DBP)” issued in December 2022, and Japan’s transparency with the formulation of these documents, and welcomed Japan’s commitment to maintaining and developing a free and open rules-based international order.
20. The leaders welcomed the signing of the Terms of Reference concerning Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Activities of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) in the Republic of the Philippines, which aims to simplify the procedures for visits to the Philippines by the JSDF, as one of the efforts to enhance 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.
21. The leaders resolved to increase the defense capabilities of their own countries, and further strengthen overall security cooperation 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. President Marcos referred to Japan’s useful defense equipment transfer program, and the potential for deepening collaboration, joint work, and interoperability.
22. Furthermore, the leaders welcomed the progress of bilateral defense exchanges such as through the Vice Minister's Defense Dialogue in December 2022, Staff Talks in July 2022, Japan-Philippines Military-to-Military Meeting (MM) in October 2022; and deepening defense engagements through the JSDF’s participation in HADR events of the Philippines–U.S. “KAMANDAG” and “SAMA-SAMA” exercises and the Philippines–Australia “LUMBAS”, and exchanges between the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and the Philippine Air Force in December 2022, such as the visit of the JASDF’s fighter aircraft to the Republic of the Philippines. The leaders also welcomed the Japan-Philippines-U.S. Land Forces Summit and committed to further enhancement of defense exchanges through trilateral dialogues like the Japan–Philippines–U.S. Trilateral Joint Staff Talks and the Japan–Philippines–U.S. Trilateral Defense Policy Dialogue, and participation of the JSDF in Philippines–U.S. joint exercises.
23. President Marcos welcomed Japan’s intention to establish a new cooperation framework for the benefit of armed forces and other related organizations of recipient countries for the purpose of deepening security cooperation.
24. The leaders of two maritime states, sharing critical interest in keeping the waters of the Indo-Pacific safe and free, reaffirmed the importance of efforts to reinforce Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and maritime law enforcement based on international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), for the stability in the South China Sea and the Sulu–Celebes Seas, and their surrounding areas. The leaders affirmed the importance of regular bilateral engagements through the Maritime Dialogue, for the maritime policy coordination and the effective pursuit of projects and activities, whose 5th meeting is expected in the first quarter of 2023.
25. President Marcos welcomed Japan’s support to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) by way of implementing the MOC on coast guard affairs of January 2017. President Marcos thanked Prime Minister Kishida for the training and scholarships for PCG personnel and staff-to-staff programs by the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) and the continued dispatch of JICA experts. The leaders committed to strengthen knowledge transfer and sharing Japan’s best practices, including through the “SAPPHIRE” in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard. President Marcos also expressed satisfaction with concrete projects for the enhancement of maritime law enforcement capabilities, such as the development of a PCG Subic Bay support base, which could serve as the home of Japan-made 97-meter-class patrol vessels, and the installation of satellite communications system on patrol vessels.
26. The leaders reaffirmed the importance of steady implementation of the Mindanao peace process toward instituting an autonomous government in Bangsamoro by 2025 for the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. President Marcos expressed appreciation for Japan's continued support for the peace process, including decommissioning combatants and weapons of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), governance improvement of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, and socioeconomic development assistance. Prime Minister Kishida committed to strengthening, in ways commensurate to the substantive progress of the peace process, Japan's support toward facilitating cooperation such as vocational training for livelihood improvement and industrial development.
(c) People-to-People Exchanges
27. The leaders affirmed the importance of working together to overcome the COVID-19 crisis and to fully revitalize people-to-people visits and exchanges. To that end, President Marcos welcomed Prime Minister Kishida’s announcement regarding visa exemption mainly for Philippine government officials and the establishment of a new consultation mechanism to promote two-way tourism cooperation. Furthermore, the leaders expressed hope that cultural exchanges between the two peoples will be further enhanced with the participation of several hundred Filipino youths in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme and JENESYS (Japan–East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths). Prime Minister Kishida welcomed the Philippine Government’s decision to participate in Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
28. The leaders affirmed that relevant stakeholders coordinate with one another, including through the sister-city arrangements, to facilitate the host environment for Filipino students, trainees, and workers in Japan, so that a great number of them will continue to seek opportunities to acquire professional knowledge and skills in Japan and contribute to the sustainable growth of both Japanese and Philippine economies. Prime Minister Kishida expressed Japan’s intention to continue accepting Philippine civil servants in tertiary educational institutions in Japan through the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship Grant Aid of Japan (JDS).
29. The leaders, welcoming the joint hosting of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 by Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia this year, affirmed to enrich programs for sports exchange and related events to promote exchanges of Japanese and Filipino athletes.
Coordination on Regional and International Issues
30. The leaders looked forward to the convening of the ASEAN–Japan Commemorative Summit for the 50th year of ASEAN–Japan Friendship and Cooperation in Tokyo, Japan around December this year and jointly announcing a new vision for future ASEAN–Japan relations. The leaders, in recognition of the Philippines' role as the ASEAN Country Coordinator for Japan at the ASEAN Economic Ministers'’ Meeting, affirmed cooperation among the Government of Japan and ASEAN countries to formulate a new action plan in coordination with the business community's initiative to formulate the “ASEAN–Japan Economic Co-Creation Vision.”
31. The leaders expressed serious concerns about the situation in the East and South China Seas and strongly opposed the actions including force or coercion that may increase tensions. The leaders underscored the importance of peace and stability in the region and the security of its seas. The leaders reaffirmed their common commitment to freedom of navigation and overflight in the East and South China Seas, and a rules-based approach in resolving competing claims in maritime areas within the framework of international law, in particular UNCLOS. Japan concurred with the Philippines’ long-standing objections to unlawful maritime claims, militarization, coercive activities and threat or use of force in the South China Sea.
32. Prime Minister Kishida expressed Japan’s support for the July 2016 arbitral award on the South China Sea, which is final and legally binding. The leaders called for the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct for the South China Sea that is consistent with UNCLOS and does not prejudice the rights of all stakeholders in the South China Sea.
33. The leaders reaffirmed their position, as expressed in the United Nations Resolution No. ES-11/1 dated 2 March 2022, which deplored in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine and demanded Russia’s complete and unconditional withdrawal from the territory of Ukraine. In this context, the leaders stressed that the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is unacceptable. The leaders strongly opposed any attempt to jeopardize the foundation of the international order which does not accept any change of the internationally recognized borders by force or coercion affecting Europe and any part of the world. Recalling the 1982 Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes, the leaders highlighted the need to exert all efforts to de-escalate the situation and continue pursuing dialogue and diplomacy to settle disputes, maintain international peace and security, halt the growing number of civilian and military losses and casualties, and avert further humanitarian crisis. The leaders concurred that the war in Ukraine has exacerbated existing fragilities in the global economy - disrupting supply chains, worsening food and energy insecurity, causing increased inflation, restricting growth, and elevating risks to financial stability, with severe socio-economic implications. In this regard, the leaders affirmed their commitment to ensuring energy security and the global flow of essential agricultural goods and inputs, which is important in attaining food security for their peoples.
34. The leaders condemned the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea over the years, and urged North Korea to immediately resolve the abductions issue. The leaders condemned North Korea’s ongoing development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles including the unprecedented number of ballistic missiles launches last year and reiterated their commitment to achieving the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges of North Korea. The leaders urged North Korea to fully comply with all of its obligations under the relevant UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs), and emphasized the importance of the international community fully implementing the UNSCRs.
35. President Marcos reiterated his commitment to the full implementation of the Five-Point Consensus and support for the work of the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair. President Marcos reiterated the Philippines’ call for the cessation of violence and a constructive dialogue among all parties concerned. Japan reaffirmed its support for ASEAN’s efforts to improve the situation in Myanmar through the Five-Point Consensus. The leaders concurred on intensifying international efforts toward humanitarian assistance, the immediate cessation of all violence, the release of those who are arbitrarily detained, and a swift return to the path of inclusive democracy.
36. With a view to maintaining and strengthening the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as the cornerstone of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, the leaders stressed the importance of enhancing transparency measures, and reaffirmed their intention to work closely, including through activities in the framework of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI), toward the 11th NPT review conference. President Marcos welcomed Prime Minister Kishida's efforts on nuclear disarmament in line with the "Hiroshima Action Plan".
37. The leaders reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to defend the United Nations Charter and multilateralism based on the rule of law. The leaders underscored their determination to work together with a view to achieving concrete progress in Security Council (UNSC) reform. The leaders expressed their countries’ support of the UNSC reform in all its aspects, including in the expansion of its membership, both permanent and non-permanent, and reform on its working methods.
38. President Marcos extended to Prime Minister Kishida an invitation to visit the Philippines at a mutually convenient time in 2023, and Prime Minister Kishida accepted the invitation.
END