Latest news with #AcquisitionandCross-servicingAgreement
Gulf Today
30-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Japan and Philippines to discuss two defence pacts
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Tuesday that his country and the Philippines would start talks on two proposed defense pacts to further boost their security alliance and would continue to fight aggression in disputed Asian waters in an obvious rebuke of China. Ishiba and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr also discussed in Manila the impact of the barrage of tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump and China's countermeasures on the global economy and free trade system, the Japanese premier said in a news conference with Marcos after their talks. Ishiba said without elaborating that he would carry out consultations in the Philippines, where major Japanese companies have a presence, to 'work toward a better solution.' He flew to the Philippines after a visit to Vietnam, another Southeast Asian nation, which has had increasingly hostile confrontations with China's coast guard, naval and suspected militia forces in recent years. China didn't immediately comment on Ishiba's remarks. Beijing claims virtually the entire waterway, where it has bolstered its coast guard and naval presence and built artificial island bases to fortify its claims. Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have also been involved in the long-simmering territorial standoffs. The Philippines, Marcos said, would continue its strengthened strategic partnership with Japan, which 'shares our ideals and aspirations of upholding democratic institutions and the rules-based international order.' In the East China Sea, China has routinely sent coast guard vessels and planes into waters and airspace that surround islands, which are claimed by both Tokyo and Beijing, to harass Japanese vessels. That has prompted Japan at times to scramble jets in response. 'We oppose any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo through force or coercion in the East and South China Seas,' Ishiba said in an obvious reprimand of China, though he didn't name the country. 'I hope that our two countries will continue to work closely together to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law.' The defense pact that Japan and the Philippines would start to negotiate is called the Acquisition and Cross-servicing Agreement, which would allow the provision of food, fuel and other necessities when Japanese forces visit the Philippines for joint training under a major defense accord that was signed last year and is expected to be ratified by the Japanese legislature. The other proposed agreement involves the security of highly confidential defense and military information the countries could share. The United States and the Philippines signed such an agreement in November to secure the exchange of highly confidential military intelligence and technology in key weapons that the US would provide to Manila. During their talks, Ishiba said that he and Marcos reaffirmed the importance of their trilateral alliance with the US. The US has repeatedly warned China over its escalating acts of aggression in the disputed waters against Japan and the Philippines, which are among Washington's staunchest treaty allies in Asia. However, Trump's tariff impositions on Japan and the Philippines, among other countries worldwide, have sparked an awkward dilemma among the close security allies. 'The US tariff measures have dealt a major blow to the economies of both Vietnam and the Philippines. In addition, there have been major impacts on Japanese companies expanding into these countries,' Ishiba said over the weekend in Tokyo before travelling to Vietnam and the Philippines. He was scheduled to meet with Japanese company executives in the Philippines to hear their concerns, Japanese officials said. After visiting a Japanese war memorial in Laguna province, south of Manila, on Wednesday, Ishiba is scheduled to board in Manila the BRP Magbanua, one of the two largest patrol ships built by Japan for the Philippine coast guard. The Magbanua has figured in increasingly hostile faceoffs with the Chinese coast guard in the South China Sea and was damaged in one tense encounter last year in the disputed Sabina Shoal. Associated Press
Japan Today
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Japan, Philippines to start talks on 2 defense pacts in the face of China's growing aggression
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, third left, and Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, third right, attend a bilateral meeting at Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines, on Tuesday. By JIM GOMEZ Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tuesday that his country and the Philippines would start talks on two proposed defense pacts to further boost their security alliance and would continue to fight aggression in disputed Asian waters in an obvious rebuke of China. Ishiba and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr also discussed in Manila the impact of the barrage of tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and China's countermeasures on the global economy and free trade system, the Japanese premier said in a news conference with Marcos after their talks. Ishiba said without elaborating that he would carry out consultations in the Philippines, where major Japanese companies have a presence, to "work toward a better solution.' He flew to the Philippines after a visit to Vietnam, another Southeast Asian nation which has had increasingly hostile confrontations with China's coast guard, naval and suspected militia forces in recent years. China didn't immediately comment on Ishiba's remarks. Beijing claims virtually the entire waterway, where it has bolstered its coast guard and naval presence and built artificial island bases to fortify its claims. Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have also been involved in the long-simmering territorial standoffs. The Philippines, Marcos said, would continue its strengthened strategic partnership with Japan, which 'shares our ideals and aspirations of upholding democratic institutions and the rules-based international order.' In the East China Sea, China has routinely sent coast guard vessels and planes into waters and airspace that surround islands, which are claimed by both Tokyo and Beijing, to harass Japanese vessels. That has prompted Japan at times to scramble jets in response. 'We oppose any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo through force or coercion in the East and South China Seas,' Ishiba said in an obvious reprimand of China, though he didn't name the country. "I hope that our two countries will continue to work closely together to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law.' The defense pact that Japan and the Philippines would start to negotiate is called the Acquisition and Cross-servicing Agreement, which would allow the provision of food, fuel and other necessities when Japanese forces visit the Philippines for joint training under a major defense accord that was signed last year and is expected to be ratified by the Japanese legislature. The other proposed agreement involves the security of highly confidential defense and military information the countries could share. The United States and the Philippines signed such an agreement in November to secure the exchange of highly confidential military intelligence and technology in key weapons that the U.S. would provide to Manila. During their talks, Ishiba said that he and Marcos reaffirmed the importance of their trilateral alliance with the U.S. The U.S. has repeatedly warned China over its escalating acts of aggression in the disputed waters against Japan and the Philippines, which are among Washington's staunchest treaty allies in Asia. However, Trump's tariff impositions on Japan and the Philippines, among other countries worldwide, have sparked an awkward dilemma among the close security allies. 'The U.S. tariff measures have dealt a major blow to the economies of both Vietnam and the Philippines. In addition, there have been major impacts on Japanese companies expanding into these countries,' Ishiba said over the weekend in Tokyo before traveling to Vietnam and the Philippines. He was scheduled to meet with Japanese company executives in the Philippines to hear their concerns, Japanese officials said. After visiting a Japanese war memorial in Laguna province, south of Manila, on Wednesday, Ishiba is scheduled to board in Manila the BRP Magbanua, one of the two largest patrol ships built by Japan for the Philippine coast guard. The Magbanua has figured in increasingly hostile faceoffs with the Chinese coast guard in the South China Sea and was damaged in one tense encounter last year in the disputed Sabina Shoal. The countries accused each other then of instigating the high seas confrontation. Japan has supplied a dozen patrol ships in recent years to the Philippines, which is using them largely to defend its territorial interest in the South China Sea. Japan plans to build at least five more patrol ships for the Philippines. It has also provided radars and other defense equipment for the underfunded Philippine military. Aaron Favila in Manila, and Haruka Nuga in Bangkok, contributed to this report. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Al Jazeera
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Japan, Philippines pledge to deepen security ties amid China tensions
The leaders of Japan and the Philippines have pledged to deepen their security ties, including increased intelligence sharing, as they grapple with territorial disputes with China. On his first visit to the Philippines since assuming office in October, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Tuesday that the two countries oppose 'attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea and the South China Sea by force or coercion'. Speaking after talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr in Manila, Ishiba said the two leaders agreed to begin negotiations on a defence pact formally known as the Acquisition and Cross-servicing Agreement. The deal would allow the provision of food, fuel and other necessities when Japanese forces visit the Philippines for joint training under a major defence accord that was signed last year and is expected to be ratified by the Japanese legislature. The Philippine Senate ratified it in December. Ishiba said he and Marcos 'also confirmed the start of government-to-government talks towards sealing a security of information agreement in the future'. The Philippine president added that Tokyo's previous security assistance had 'allowed our security agencies and especially the Department of National Defence to achieve meaningful upgrades' and praised a 'golden age' in their relations. The talks in Manila were held as both Japan and the Philippines have faced increased tensions with China. Chinese-Philippine ties have been tested repeatedly by confrontations involving the two nations' coastguard vessels in the disputed South China Sea. Japan has its own dispute with China over uninhabited islands in the East China Sea known as the Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan, which are claimed by Beijing but administered by Tokyo. The Philippines and China are also at loggerheads over a disputed sandbank in the South China Sea. On Monday, Beijing accused six Filipinos of illegally landing on the Tiexian Reef, also known as Sandy Cay, despite 'warnings and dissuasion' from the Chinese side. Beijing said the action 'violated China's territorial sovereignty'. Their shared grievances over China's territorial claims have seen Japan and the Philippines draw increasingly close to each other as well as towards the United States. Late last year, Marcos and former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Washington for a trilateral summit with then-US President Joe Biden. Ishiba said he and Marcos had 'affirmed the importance of Japan-US-Philippines cooperation' during Tuesday's meeting. On the economic front, the Japanese premier said the two men had also talked about the impact of US President Donald Trump's tariff blitz. 'We discussed the current measures taken by the United States as well as the impact felt on … the world economy because of the reciprocal retaliation seen between the United States and China,' Ishiba said.
Al Jazeera
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Japan, Philippines pledge to deepen security ties as China tensions simmer
The leaders of Japan and the Philippines have pledged to deepen their security ties, including increased intelligence sharing, as they grapple with territorial disputes with China. On his first visit to the Philippines since assuming office in October, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Tuesday that the two countries oppose 'attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea and the South China Sea by force or coercion'. Speaking after talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr in Manila, Ishiba said the two leaders agreed to begin negotiations on a defence pact formally known as the Acquisition and Cross-servicing Agreement. The deal would allow the provision of food, fuel and other necessities when Japanese forces visit the Philippines for joint training under a major defence accord that was signed last year and is expected to be ratified by the Japanese legislature. The Philippine Senate ratified it in December. Ishiba said he and Marcos 'also confirmed the start of government-to-government talks towards sealing a security of information agreement in the future'. The Philippine president added that Tokyo's previous security assistance had 'allowed our security agencies and especially the Department of National Defence to achieve meaningful upgrades' and praised a 'golden age' in their relations. The talks in Manila were held as both Japan and the Philippines have faced increased tensions with China. Chinese-Philippine ties have been tested repeatedly by confrontations involving the two nations' coastguard vessels in the disputed South China Sea. Japan has its own dispute with China over uninhabited islands in the East China Sea known as the Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan, which are claimed by Beijing but administered by Tokyo. The Philippines and China are also at loggerheads over a disputed sandbank in the South China Sea. On Monday, Beijing accused six Filipinos of illegally landing on the Tiexian Reef, also known as Sandy Cay, despite 'warnings and dissuasion' from the Chinese side. Beijing said the action 'violated China's territorial sovereignty'. Their shared grievances over China's territorial claims have seen Japan and the Philippines draw increasingly close to each other as well as towards the United States. Late last year, Marcos and former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Washington for a trilateral summit with then-US President Joe Biden. Ishiba said he and Marcos had 'affirmed the importance of Japan-US-Philippines cooperation' during Tuesday's meeting. On the economic front, the Japanese premier said the two men had also talked about the impact of US President Donald Trump's tariff blitz. 'We discussed the current measures taken by the United States as well as the impact felt on … the world economy because of the reciprocal retaliation seen between the United States and China,' Ishiba said.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Japan and Philippines to start talks on two defense pacts in the face of China's growing aggression
MANILA: Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tuesday that his country and the Philippines would start talks on two proposed defense pacts to further boost their security alliance and would continue to fight aggression in disputed Asian waters in an obvious rebuke of China. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Ishiba and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr also discussed in Manila the impact of the barrage of tariffs imposed by US President and China's countermeasures on the global economy and free trade system, the Japanese premier said in a news conference with Marcos after their talks. Ishiba said without elaborating that he would carry out consultations in the Philippines, where major Japanese companies have a presence, to "work toward a better solution." He flew to the Philippines after a visit to Vietnam, another Southeast Asian nation which has had increasingly hostile confrontations with China's coast guard, naval and suspected militia forces in recent years. China didn't immediately comment on Ishiba's remarks. Beijing claims virtually the entire waterway, where it has bolstered its coast guard and naval presence and built artificial island bases to fortify its claims. Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have also been involved in the long-simmering territorial standoffs. The Philippines, Marcos said, would continue its strengthened strategic partnership with Japan, which "shares our ideals and aspirations of upholding democratic institutions and the rules-based international order." In the , China has routinely sent coast guard vessels and planes into waters and airspace that surround islands, which are claimed by both Tokyo and Beijing, to harass Japanese vessels. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now That has prompted Japan at times to scramble jets in response. "We oppose any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo through force or coercion in the East and South China seas," Ishiba said in an obvious reprimand of China, though he didn't name the country. "I hope that our two countries will continue to work closely together to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law." The defense pact that Japan and the Philippines would start to negotiate is called the Acquisition and Cross-servicing Agreement, which would allow the provision of food, fuel and other necessities when Japanese forces visit the Philippines for joint training under a major defense accord that was signed last year and is expected to be ratified by the Japanese legislature. The other proposed agreement involves the security of highly confidential defense and military information the countries could share. The United States and the Philippines signed such an agreement in November to secure the exchange of highly confidential military intelligence and technology in key weapons that the US would provide to Manila. During their talks, Ishiba said that he and Marcos reaffirmed the importance of their trilateral alliance with the US. The US has repeatedly warned China over its escalating acts of aggression in the disputed waters against Japan and the Philippines, which are among Washington's staunchest treaty allies in Asia. However, Trump's tariff impositions on Japan and the Philippines, among other countries worldwide, have sparked an awkward dilemma among the close security allies. "The US tariff measures have dealt a major blow to the economies of both Vietnam and the Philippines. In addition, there have been major impacts on Japanese companies expanding into these countries," Ishiba said over the weekend in Tokyo before traveling to Vietnam and the Philippines. He was scheduled to meet with Japanese company executives in the Philippines to hear their concerns, Japanese officials said. After visiting a Japanese war memorial in Laguna province, south of Manila, on Wednesday, Ishiba is scheduled to board in Manila the BRP Magbanua, one of the two largest patrol ships built by Japan for the Philippine coast guard. The Magbanua has figured in increasingly hostile faceoffs with the Chinese coast guard in the and was damaged in one tense encounter last year in the disputed Sabina Shoal. The countries accused each other then of instigating the high seas confrontation. Japan has supplied a dozen patrol ships in recent years to the Philippines, which is using them largely to defend its territorial interest in the South China sea. Japan plans to build at least five more patrol ships for the Philippines. It has also provided radars and other defense equipment for the underfunded Philippine military.
