Japan FM Iwaya visits PH to boost strategic partnership

Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will visit the Philippines next week for his first official trip as foreign minister to strengthen Tokyo's strategic partnership with Manila amid a complex security environment.

During his two-day visit from January 14 to 15, 2025, Iwaya and Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo are expected to discuss political, defense, economic cooperation, regional developments, the implementation of their newly ratified Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), and other areas of mutual concern.

Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo expressed optimism that discussions between the two foreign ministry secretaries will be fruitful and mark an important beginning for this year's bilateral relations.

Both nations are expected to reaffirm their commitment to enhancing military cooperation following Japan's grant of 1.6 billion yen to boost the Philippines' naval capabilities, as well as new opportunities for trilateral maritime talks with the United States.

China's territorial disputes in the South China Sea and East China Sea remain central issues driving closer security ties between Manila and Tokyo.