PH, Japanese Foreign Ministers Meet to Bolster PH-Japan Strategic Ties
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. (left) met face-to-face officially for the first time with Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa (right) in a bilateral meeting following the inaugural 2+2 Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting on 9 April 2022. (Photo courtesy of MOFA, Japan)
PASAY CITY 12 April 2022 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. met Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa for bilateral discussions following their attendance in the inaugural Philippines-Japan Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting or “2+2” in Tokyo.
Held on 09 April 2022, the Day of Valor in the Philippines – a national holiday commemorating the heroism of Filipino soldiers in World War II - the high-level meetings are a testament to growing mutual trust and cooperation on security and defense matters 66 years after the normalization of ties between the two countries. In his remarks, Secretary Locsin stated that “the security ties we are developing are less than those of an alliance but much more than a cordial relationship.”
During their bilateral meeting, both ministers agreed that the 2+2 mechanism is a major step in advancing the strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan.
FM Hayashi echoed Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s words that the Philippines-Japan relations are currently in a “golden age,” with major achievements in infrastructure cooperation, particularly the completion in less than five years of projects worth 1 trillion yen (approximately USD 7.962 billion) committed by Japan since 2017.
Secretary Locsin replied that Japan’s development assistance is essential to the country’s development roadmap. Japan remains the top ODA provider with a share of 31.84% of the total Philippine ODA portfolio. In the first to third quarter of 2021, Japan was the Philippines’ second largest trading partner, third largest export market, and second largest source of imports.
The Secretary also conveyed that the movement of Filipino health and medical professionals is crucial and expressed hope that both sides could make it more conducive for more Filipino health workers to work in the Japanese health system in accordance with the Philippine-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement.
For his part, FM Hayashi asked the Philippine side’s cooperation on Japan’s efforts to grant Japanese citizenship to hundreds of second-generation persons of Japanese descent (PJDs), called “Nikkeijins” living mostly in Mindanao. Secretary Locsin conveyed support for the endeavor and shared that the Philippines was the first country in Asia to become a State Party to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, demonstrating Philippines’ “full commitment to reducing and eliminating statelessness.”
Secretary Locsin reiterated the Philippines’ condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine and deplored the humanitarian crisis it has created, stressing the need to respond to the ongoing humanitarian crisis that is worsening by the day. The Secretary echoed the appeal for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and the safe and secure access to humanitarian assistance. He likewise underscored that the UNGA’s Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes provides the legal framework for recourse to diplomacy, dialogue, and the rule of law and is a pragmatic and decent way to address the crisis in Ukraine.
On the South China Sea issue that remains one of the most challenging issues for the Philippines and the region, Secretary Locsin emphasized the importance of resolving differences through diplomacy, dialogue, and the rule of law. He said that the 2016 Arbitral Award and UNCLOS remain the anchors of the Philippine position and actions in the West Philippine Sea, and thanked Japan for its steadfast support for the Arbitral Award.
The ministers discussed other regional issues and reaffirmed their commitments to the two countries’ shared goals. Secretary Locsin expressed both sides’ aspirations to sustain the abiding friendship between the Philippines and Japan through sustained engagements at all levels. END
Foreign Affairs Secretary Locsin and Defense Secretary Lorenzana meet with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio (Photo courtesy of MOFA, Japan)
2+2 Ministers: Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa, and Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo (Photo courtesy of MOFA, Japan)