Japan will never allow the devastation of war to be repeated again, Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya said.
Kazuya made the statement during the 82nd commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor in Bataan on Tuesday, April 9.
"We, the Japanese people, are determined to never allow the devastation of war to be repeated ever again for the sake of present and future generations," the ambassador said in his speech.
The Japanese envoy also reaffirmed his country's commitment to maintain and strengthen the rule-based international and maritime order, which "we have protected together for decades," amid current international conflicts such as those in Ukraine, Middle East, as well as the complex security environment in the Indo-Pacific Region.
"Our trilateral cooperation with the Philippines and the United States serves as a symbol as a shared commitment to promote a free and open international order based on the rule of law," the envoy also said.
He added that Japan is looking forward to the historic and first-ever Japan-Philippines-US summit meeting this week in Washington which serves as a testament in further strengthening trilateral cooperation with the two countries.
Japan committed that it will continuously work towards steadily materializing cooperative efforts in the areas of defense, strategic infrastructure, cyber, economic security, and energy.
"Let us seize this moment to reaffirm our commitment as strategic partners and ally and friends in building a future preserving the peace and prosperity in the region. I believe that this is the best tribute we can offer to the souls of those who passed away in the fighting that took place here 82 years ago," Kazuya said.
"I assure you all that Japan and the Philippines will continue to cooperate fully in ensuring greater progress and prosperity for nations and the world at large in times of both crisis and prosperity," he added.
The Day of Valor commemorates the heroism and sacrifice of Filipinos who fought in the Battle of Bataan during World War II.