Japan eyes closer ties with Philippines, Cambodia via security aid
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya expressed eagerness to enhance ties with the Philippines and Cambodia through security aid as he met separately with their top diplomats in Tokyo on Wednesday, in the face of China's growing influence in Southeast Asia.
On the economic front, Iwaya agreed with Enrique Manalo from the Philippines to further cooperate in infrastructure development, while he underscored the importance of enhancing the multilateral free trade system with Cambodia's Prak Sokhonn, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
Reflecting the rapidly advancing ties with the Philippines, Iwaya said the partnership between Tokyo and Manila has evolved into a "near-alliance status" and called for joint efforts to realize a "free and open Indo-Pacific."
Iwaya and Manalo also agreed to hold maritime talks involving senior officials and a vice-minister-level strategic dialogue later this year, the ministry said.
The two countries share concerns over Beijing's maritime assertiveness, with Chinese vessels acting aggressively against Philippine ships near disputed shoals in the South China Sea and repeatedly entering waters around the Japan-controlled, China-claimed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
Japan has already decided to provide the Philippine military with coastal surveillance radar under the Official Security Assistance program launched in 2023 aimed at deepening security ties with like-minded partners.
Cambodia, which has been deepening its ties with China economically and militarily, is not among the selected recipients under the program. But Iwaya conveyed to Sokhonn Japan's desire to advance discussion on the provision of defense equipment, according to the ministry.
Touching on the China-funded Ream Naval Base in southwestern Cambodia, which Japanese defense force ships docked at in April, Iwaya said he would like to see port calls of vessels from various countries in the future leading it to become a "more open base."
The Japanese foreign minister also confirmed that Tokyo will work with Cambodia to try and diversify its trading partners amid U.S. President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff measures, which have roiled global trade. Cambodia currently relies heavily on the United States and China.
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