Potential discussions about defense, particularly maritime security, between the Philippines and Japan will be a new element in the relationship of the two countries, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said. | GabrielLaluINQ
“But that’s a new area because ang dealings natin with Japan have always been the G-to-G [government-to-government] JICA [Japan International Cooperation Agency] aid, grant-level, and of course on the commercial side. So this is a new element to our relationship because we are now talking about security of the region,” he added.Marcos said defense cooperation is not a bad thing since stability in the region is a mutual desire of both countries.
“So being, of course, all interested in the same thing — security in the region — I think cooperation is not a bad thing,” he noted.Marcos was also asked about the possibility of Japan extending further support to the Philippine Coast Guard, and the proposed creation of a visiting forces agreement with Japan — like the one that the Philippines has with the United States.
The VFA with Japan is an old proposal, dating back to before the term of Marcos’ predecessor, former president Rodrigo Duterte. Talks have bogged down, however, as both countries focused on the COVID-19 pandemic that struck the world in 2020. Last November, several Senators led by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said that a VFA would be beneficial to the Philippines since Japan is also a close ally of the United States.The United States, under the Mutual Defense Treaty, is expected to come to the Philippines’ aid if the latter suffers an unprovoked attack.
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