Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 17) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines’ relationship with Japan should be strengthened not just on the economic front but also regarding security and defense amid growing tensions in the region.
During the courtesy call of Komeito Party Chief Representative Hon. Yamaguchi Natsuo on Wednesday, the Palace said the president stressed the two countries’ ties in trade and development.
“But I suppose that now times have changed and those agreements have gone beyond just trade, just business, just investment. And we now have to concern ourselves with issues of security and defense in our region,” Marcos told Natsuo.
Marcos particularly considered “a critical issue” of North Korea’s missile launches and weapons tests, which have raised tensions with Japan.
“We in the region must work together very, very hard to try to alleviate the tensions, to try to make all the proponents of peace in the region be the dominant voice,” he said.
The Japanese official said his country is open to beefing up its cooperation with the Philippines in more areas outside business.
“So Japan actively supports the Philippines into entering the upper-middle income countries, public and private sectors, and also we would like to see many cooperations not only in defense cooperation, but also maritime security cooperation, also agriculture areas,” Natsuo said.
