Calling the Philippines “an irreplaceable partner for Japan,” Prime Minister Kishida Fumio declared that the bilateral relations between the two countries “have reached the point of being called a ‘golden age’” as he basked in the distinction of being the first leader of his country to be accorded the privilege to address a joint session of Congress last Saturday, Nov. 4.
In his speech, the Japanese leader enunciated his advocacy of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) that consists of four pillars: First, “principles for peace and rules for prosperity”; second, “addressing challenges in an Indo-Pacific way’: third, “strengthening multi-layered connectivity’; and fourth, “extending efforts for security and safe use of the sea to the air.”
He said that the first pillar reflects “Japan’s determination to lead the international community toward cooperation rather than division and confrontation, and to defend “freedom” and “the rule of law” at all costs.” He framed Japan’s relations with the Philippines within the FOIP context.
Since 2002, Japan has contributed a total of ₱26 billion to Mindanao peace and development, thereby engendering the progress of the peace process that finally culminated in the emergence of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The fourth pillar concerns the Philippines immediate and urgent security concerns on account of the prevailing situation in the West Philippine Sea. Stating that Japan-Philippines relations have progressed “from a Golden Age to New Heights” since the observance in 2016 of the 60th year of normalization of diplomatic ties between the two countries, he cited that Japan has provided 12 ships to beef up the Philippine Coast Guard’s maritime security capability. Moreover, the Philippine Air Force was equipped recently with a warning and control radar facility by a Japanese firm in order to improve the country’s Air Domain Awareness that is crucial to an archipelagic state.
He also announced that Japan has established an Official Security Assistance (OSA) program for the Philippines, starting with the provision of coastal surveillance radars to the Philippine Navy.
The other two pillars focus on Japan’s ASEAN-centric thrusts. He announced that Japan will support the ASEAN Centre for Emerging Diseases and Public Health Emergencies. Japan will also promote “multi-layered connectivity” geared towards overcoming vulnerabilities in ASEAN by strengthening the linkages among countries.
He reminded his audience that Japan is the Philippines’ largest provider of official development assistance (ODA), citing the first-ever Metro Manila subway project, and continuing public-private partnerships. He ended his speech by referring to an emerging trilateral cooperation among Japan, the United States and the Philippines “to protect the maritime order, which is governed by laws and rules, not by force.”
He described the Japan-Philippine ties as a “heart to heart” relationship. When Japan was struck by a powerful earthquake in 2011, Filipino caregivers stayed by their elderly wards. Similarly, the Japanese people aided the Filipinos afflicted by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
The prolonged applause that he received from the senators and representatives reflected the Filipinos’ abiding friendship with the Japanese people and the enduring ties between the two nations.