The Japanese government will remain committed to providing the Philippines with much-needed equipment and support for maritime security to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region, Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru said.
 

Japan Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru speaks during a news conference at his office in Tokyo on April 1, 2025. (Nicolas Datiche/Pool Photo via AP)

In a column written for the Manila Bulletin, the Prime Minister reiterated his country’s “special bond of friendship” with the Philippines, but also acknowledged the “increasing division and confrontation” in the global space.
 

“As maritime nations bound by fundamental values and strategic interests, Japan and the Philippines are key partners who collaborate not only in bilateral relations but also on regional and global issues,” he wrote.
 

“Given the international community’s increasing division and confrontation, cooperation between Japan and the Philippines is more important than ever in realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he added.
 

Expressing his desire “to further develop the relationship between Japan and the Philippines” through his visit to Manila from April 29 to 30, Ishiba said that “Japan is advancing multi-layered security and maritime cooperation with the Philippines” in addition to the efforts to conclude the Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA).
 

Maritime cooperation between the two countries includes, among others, Japan’s delivery of air surveillance radars and the provision of coastal surveillance radars and patrol vessels.
 

Ishiba said that maritime safety capacity building, various joint exercises including maritime cooperative activities, defense exchanges, and maritime law enforcement capacity building support will also make up Japan’s and Philippines’ partnership.
 

“Japan remains committed to strengthening these efforts,” he added.
 

The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of the trilateral cooperation with the United States because of the “increasingly severe security environment in the region.”
 

“Trilateral cooperation is progressing significantly and concretely in areas such as maritime security, responses to economic coercion, and strengthening of critical infrastructure resilience,” he said.
 

“Japan will maintain and further build on this momentum, working together to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law,” Ishiba added.
 

During his visit in the Philippines, the Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with President Marcos to discuss regional maritime security. He will also sign some political, economic, and cultural agreements.