Japan-Philippines Relations
Foreign Minister Hayashi’s Courtesy Call on President Duterte of the Philippines
June 29, 2022
On June 29, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Rodrigo R. Duterte, President of the Republic of the Philippines, for approximately 25 minutes from 7:50 p.m. (8:50 p.m., JST) during his visit to the Philippines. The overview of the call is as follows.
- At the outset, President Duterte welcomed Minister Hayashi’s visit, and conveyed deep gratitude for the Government of Japan’s consistent contribution, during his six-year-long presidency, to the enhancement of socioeconomic development and maritime safety of the Philippines through the delivery of “fast and sure” assistance in public and private finances, and to stronger defense and security cooperation such as defense equipment transfers, as one of the Strategic Partners of the Philippines. In response, Minister Hayashi delivered Prime Minister Kishida’s letter to President Duterte, and expressed his appreciation that, under President Duterte’s leadership, the Japan–Philippines relations have been elevated to what is described as their “Golden Age,” and their scope of collaborations went beyond bilateral cooperation but encompassed response to regional and the international situations.
- Minister Hayashi stated that it is very reassuring that the two countries has cooperated toward the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” on the common understanding of the importance of the free and open international order based on the rule of law. In addition, referring to the achievements of bilateral cooperation in infrastructure development, maritime safety, transfers of defense equipment, response to COVID-19, and support to the Mindanao peace process, Minister Hayashi conveyed his intention to further deepen bilateral coordination, regardless of leadership, through platforms established under the Duterte administration, such as the Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (“2+2”) and the High Level Joint Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation. In response, President Duterte replied firmly that Japan is “a friend closer than a brother,” and that he would continue striving to strengthen the bilateral relations beyond his retirement.
- Furthermore, the two exchanged views on regional and international situations. The two shared strong opposition to unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas and economic coercion. The two also affirmed the need to work closely in order to maintain and strengthen the free and open international order based on the rule of law through continuing and expanding bilateral collaborations on the situations in Ukraine and North Korea, the efforts to strengthen the United Nations system including its Security Council reform, and disarmament and non-proliferation, among others.