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Japan Forward
08-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Forward
Ishiba's Philippines, Vietnam Meetings a Boost to Regional Peace
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has just completed visits to Vietnam and the Philippines and held summit talks with their leaders. His trip aimed to check China's growing involvement in Southeast Asian countries. As China seeks to expand its influence by exploiting the backlash to United States tariffs, Japan must strengthen cooperation in the Southeast Asian region. Furthermore, Japan must ensure security cooperation with other countries to maintain regional peace. Japan and the Philippines, located north and south of Taiwan, form parts of the "First Island Chain." Neither country would be able to escape involvement in a Taiwan emergency. Vietnam shares a land border with China and has long been directly threatened by its giant neighbor, as symbolized by the 1979 China-Vietnam War. Moreover, both Vietnam and the Philippines are under military pressure from China and enmeshed in territorial disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea. While in Manila, Ishiba met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The two agreed to begin bilateral discussions toward an information security agreement that would allow for the exchange of classified information. What the two sides have in mind is an arrangement resembling the bilateral General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) for the exchange of military information between Japan and South Korea. Currently, Japan is exporting airborne surveillance and control radar to the Philippines. We would like to see an agreement concluded expeditiously and a system established for the smooth implementation of such cooperation. Ishiba and Marcos also agreed to begin negotiations on an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA). This would allow the Self-Defense Forces and the Philippine military to share supplies such as food and fuel. Tokyo and Manila signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) in July 2024 to facilitate mutual travel for the Self-Defense Forces and the Philippine military. Now we hope to see the ACSA concluded as soon as possible. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Vietnam's Communist Party Secretary-General To Lam pose for a commemorative photo. Also on the left is the prime minister's wife, Yoshiko. (©Kyodo) During Ishiba's meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the two sides confirmed the establishment of a bilateral security consultative committee (2+2) for interchanges between their respective foreign and defense vice ministers. The Japanese government also promised to consider allowing Vietnam to participate in the Official Security Assistance (OSA) cooperation framework. Under that framework, Japan provides defense equipment and supplies gratis to the military forces of like-minded countries. Prime Minister Ishiba also discussed US tariff measures with the leaders of Vietnam and the Philippines. The Trump administration is wary of Chinese products being indirectly exported to the United States. Therefore, it set the reciprocal tariff rate for Vietnam, which has strong economic ties with China, at a lofty 46%. Japan should continue to make efforts to prevent Southeast Asian countries from being overwhelmed by China. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Vietnam shortly before Prime Minister Ishiba's arrival. China is a country that has a history of flouting economic rules. It must not be treated as the standard bearer for free trade. (Read the editorial in Japanese .) Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
Yomiuri Shimbun
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan's Ishiba Holds Talks with Philippine's Marcos; Leaders Expected to Work on Security Cooperation Agreements
The Yomiuri Shimbun Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, left, shakes hands with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Manila on Tuesday. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who is visiting the Philippines, held talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday in Manila. Japan considers the Philippines as a 'quasi ally,' which is the same status as Australia. The two leaders were expected to agree to begin negotiations on an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) to further strengthen security cooperation, and to agree on the need for the early conclusion of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA). Ishiba and Marcos were also expected to confirm the deepening of cooperation between Japan, the United States and the Philippines. With China's maritime expansion in mind, they were expected to announce a policy of not approving unilateral changes to the status quo by force. The leaders were also expected to exchange views on tariff measures imposed by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and confirm the importance of free trade.
South China Morning Post
28-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Will closer US-Japan-Philippines security ties create hostile bloc at China's doorstep?
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will visit the Philippines this week to boost security cooperation, including an intelligence-sharing agreement expected to sharpen regional surveillance of Beijing's activities in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. Advertisement Analysts said China would be wary of the strategic implications of such a deal and the risks of a stronger US-Japan-Philippines security alignment creating a confrontational bloc near its borders. The General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) will be a key item on Ishiba's agenda when he arrives in Manila for a two-day visit on Tuesday. The agreement is designed to allow protected and expanded exchanges of classified military information and defence technologies between the two US treaty allies. The Philippines and the United States signed their own GSOMIA in November. Ding Duo, an associate research fellow at China's National Institute for South China Sea Studies, said the military information-sharing frameworks would allow the three countries to track China's activities and deployments in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait 'more promptly and comprehensively'. Advertisement 'The strength of such a sharing network lies in the combination of Japan's advanced maritime and aerial reconnaissance capabilities with the Philippines' geographical advantage,' Ding said.
Yomiuri Shimbun
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan, Philippines Likely to Sign Military Information Agreement; GSOMIA Needed for Countries to Exchange Sensitive Military Info
Yomiuri Shimbun file photo Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Japanese and Philippine governments have entered the final phase in coordinating the early signing of a bilateral general security of military information agreement (GSOMIA) at a summit scheduled for later this month, according to Japanese government sources. GSOMIA is necessary for exchanging highly confidential military information between signatory nations. Japan and Manila are also likely to agree to start negotiations to sign an agreement, under which the Self-Defense Forces and the Philippine military will be able to provide food, fuel and other supplies to each other. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is scheduled to visit Vietnam and the Philippines from April 27 to 30. Ishiba aims to use the trip to strengthen security cooperation with the two countries while keeping China, which has been increasing its hegemonic activities, in mind. Ishiba will meet with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr in Manila, and they will confirm strengthening cooperation between the SDF and the Philippine military while also working to make progress regarding Japan's Official Security Assistance (OSA) programs. Through the OSA, Japan provides defense equipment for free to countries that share the same values. The leaders are also likely to discuss such issues as conducting joint drills with the countries' coast guards. Ahead of his visit to the Philippines, Ishiba will visit Hanoi and meet with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. To boost communication between Japan and Vietnam, Ishiba and Pham are expected to agree to hold two-plus-two meetings between the countries' vice foreign and defense ministers. Their first two-plus-two meeting will likely be held in Japan by the end of the year. Ishiba and Pham are also expected to agree to proactively use the OSA programs. As Japan has never implemented an OSA program in Vietnam, it will be the first if realized. They will also likely agree on fostering personnel in the semiconductor industry. In addition, Ishiba is expected to have discussions with the two leaders on how to respond to the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. The Japanese side hopes to have close communication with the two countries.
Japan Times
17-04-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Ishiba to visit Vietnam and the Philippines from April 27
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to visit Vietnam and the Philippines for four days from April 27 for talks on security cooperation. The trip comes at a time when China is cozying up to Southeast Asian countries, amid growing distrust of the United States in light of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff measures. Chinese President Xi Jinping recently visited Vietnam and Malaysia, but Japan is hoping to counter Beijing through stronger cooperation with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. In Vietnam, Ishiba is set to meet with To Lam, general secretary of the ruling Communist Party, and other top officials to tell them that Tokyo plans to make the country eligible for its official security assistance framework for providing defense equipment free of charge to like-minded countries. The Japanese leader hopes to draw up a memorandum containing the details of future cooperation with Vietnam by next March. He will also visit Vietnam Japan University, established in Hanoi by the two countries as a joint national project. In the Philippines, Ishiba will hold talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., aiming to reach an agreement on starting discussions for forming a military intelligence-sharing pact between the two countries, known as the General Security of Military Information Agreement, or GSOMIA. They are also expected to agree to begin negotiations on an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement that will allow for the mutual supply of ammunition and fuel. Ishiba is also considering meeting with stateless people born to Japanese nationals and left in the Philippines after World War II to convey Tokyo's support for them acquiring Japanese nationality. Ishiba, who attaches great importance to relations with ASEAN, visited Malaysia and Indonesia in January.
