Japan-Philippines Relations
Foreign Minister Hayashi’s Visit to the Philippines
(Japan-Philippines Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Courtesy Call on Vice President-elect Sara Z. Duterte)
June 29, 2022
On June 29, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, during his visit to the Philippines to attend the presidential inauguration ceremony as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister, held a meeting with Hon. Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines, and paid a courtesy call on Hon. Ms. Sara Z. Duterte, Vice President-elect of the Republic of the Philippines. The overview is as follows.
1. Japan-Philippines Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (commencing at 3:10 p.m. local time [4:10 p.m. Japan time] for approximately 15 minutes)
- (1)At the outset, Secretary Locsin welcomed Minister Hayashi’s visit and attendance to the presidential inauguration ceremony and expressed his gratitude to Japan’s cooperation to the Philippines, recognizing Japan as the closest partner for the Philippines in the region, while recalling the inaugural Japan-Philippines Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (“2+2”) held successfully in April. In response, Minister Hayashi conveyed appreciation for the contribution of Secretary Locsin on expanding the scope of bilateral cooperation and reaching a “Golden Age.”
- (2)The two ministers then exchanged views on regional and international affairs, and confirmed that the two countries need to further strengthen their coordination to address matters such as unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas and economic coercion, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and its resulting impact on energy and food prices, and North Korea’s abductions, nuclear, and missile issues.
- (3)Minister Hayashi welcomed the progress of cooperation in maritime safety, transfer of defense equipment and infrastructure toward the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” and expressed his intention to further promote bilateral cooperation that transcends administrations, making use of the “2+2” inaugurated with Secretary Locsin in April 2022. In response, Secretary Locsin expressed his appreciation for the Japan’s cooperation on issues such as defense equipment transfer, development cooperation and maritime safety cooperation including the provision of patrol vessels and stated that he would continue to contribute to the further development of the bilateral relationship following his resignation from office.
2. Courtesy Call on Vice President-elect Sara Z. Duterte (commencing at 4:00 p.m. local time [5:00 p.m. Japan time] for approximately 20 minutes)
- (1)At the outset, Vice President-elect Duterte expressed appreciation for Minister Hayashi’s letter of congratulations on her election as Vice President and the attendance to the presidential inauguration ceremony.
- (2)Minister Hayashi, noting that Japan and the Philippines are both maritime nations and strategic partners sharing fundamental values and strategic interests, stated that Japan would continue to engage in concrete cooperation while leveraging ODA toward the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.” Both Minister Hayashi and Vice President-elect Duterte concurred to work closely on maintaining and strengthening the maritime order based on the rule of law.
- (3)The two sides concurred to cooperate in the economic and social sectors, such as infrastructure, environmental measures, and digital, as well as in the fields of security and maritime safety with a view to stabilizing the seas surrounding the Philippines, including the Sulu-Celebes Seas. In addition, Minister Hayashi conveyed that Japan would continue to support the establishment of an autonomous government in Mindanao, and asked for the Philippines’ cooperation on the acquisition of Japanese nationality by Japanese descent left behind in the Philippines after World War II. Vice President-elect Duterte expressed her appreciation for Japan’s long time support on the infrastructure development in the Philippines including the City of Davao.
- (4)Regarding the regional and international affairs, the two sides concurred to work together to address matters such as the continued and strengthened unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas as well as economic coercion, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and its resulting impact on energy and food prices, and North Korea’s abductions, nuclear, and missile issues.
- (5)Minister Hayashi, based on his experience as the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, exchanged views with Vice President-elect Duterte who is expected to hold the pose of Secretary of Education.