Latest news with #Iwaya
Yomiuri Shimbun
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Philippines Agree to Strengthen Security Cooperation; Nations Hope to Work Together to Counter Expanding Chinese Maritime Presence
Yomiuri Shimbun file photo The Foreign Ministry in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo With China's aggressive expansion of its maritime presence in the East and South China Seas in mind, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo agreed to strengthen security cooperation between their two countries when they met in Tokyo on Wednesday. At the start of the discussions, Iwaya declared that Japan hopes to collaborate with the Philippines, its 'near-alliance' partner, to realize a 'free and open Indo-Pacific.' He also expressed his intention to further promote cooperation through the Official Security Assistance program, in which Japan provides friendly nations with defense equipment free of charge. The two sides also agreed to deepen Japan-Philippines and Japan-U.S.-Philippines cooperation. Iwaya also held talks with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn on Wednesday, in which the two sides exchanged views on issues such as the situation in the East and South China Seas.
The Mainichi
3 days ago
- Business
- The Mainichi
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.
3 days ago
- Business
Japan, Philippines Vow to Deepen 3-Way Ties with U.S.
News from Japan Politics May 28, 2025 19:05 (JST) Tokyo, May 28 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and his Philippine counterpart, Enrique Manalo, agreed Wednesday to deepen cooperation among the two countries and the United States to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. The top diplomats agreed to hold maritime consultations and a vice-ministerial strategic dialogue by the end of this year. They welcomed the start of discussions on an information protection agreement and of negotiations on an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, following a summit between Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last month. Iwaya and Manalo also confirmed their cooperation to help Japanese-Filipinos who were left behind in the Philippines after the end of World War II and became stateless to gain Japanese nationality. Also on Wednesday, Iwaya separately met with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn. The two agreed to work on maintaining and strengthening the multilateral free trade system, with the increasingly protectionist stance of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump in mind. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Japan Today
6 days ago
- Business
- Japan Today
Japan to increase salaries of chefs at diplomatic missions
Photo taken in 2024 shows a chef (L) serving Japanese food to guests during an event held at the Embassy of Japan in the Czech Republic in Prague. (Photo courtesy of the Japanese Foreign Ministry)(For editorial use only)(Photo use permitted only for the story concerned)(Kyodo) ==Kyodo Japan's government plans to improve working conditions for chefs at its overseas diplomatic missions due to intensifying competition for talent as the nation's cuisine grows in popularity worldwide. More than 6 million yen will be paid annually to chefs under the new scheme slated to start in January, up from the current average of around 4 to 4.5 million yen, according to the Foreign Ministry. Many serve as live-in chefs at diplomatic establishments, but they will be allowed to opt for rented accommodation with the cost to be covered by the government, the ministry said. Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said chefs at overseas missions play "significant roles" in the hosting of foreign dignitaries, and recruiting good staff has "increasingly become harder." "We expect chefs, as 'food diplomats,' to promote Japanese food more proactively," Iwaya told a press conference earlier this month when he announced the new system. Every overseas outpost should have a chef, and busy locations, including the Japanese embassies in the United States and China, have two. Currently, about a dozen out of some 230 missions have a vacancy, according to the ministry. The chefs will be contracted for two years and can be extended for one year. Currently, the length of their contracts tends to be open-ended as they are linked to the terms of their higher-ranked colleagues such as ambassadors and consuls general. The new system is expected to enable the chefs to "draw their career paths more easily," Iwaya said. Other improvements include adding funds to the chefs' salaries for them to use in bringing their spouses to countries where they work, the ministry said. © KYODO
Kyodo News
6 days ago
- Business
- Kyodo News
Japan to increase salaries of chefs at diplomatic missions
KYODO NEWS - 12 hours ago - 10:24 | All, Japan Japan's government plans to improve working conditions for chefs at its overseas diplomatic missions due to intensifying competition for talent as the nation's cuisine grows in popularity worldwide. More than 6 million yen ($41,000) will be paid annually to chefs under the new scheme slated to start in January, up from the current average of around 4 to 4.5 million yen, according to the Foreign Ministry. Many serve as live-in chefs at diplomatic establishments, but they will be allowed to opt for rented accommodation with the cost to be covered by the government, the ministry said. Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said chefs at overseas missions play "significant roles" in the hosting of foreign dignitaries, and recruiting good staff has "increasingly become harder." "We expect chefs, as 'food diplomats,' to promote Japanese food more proactively," Iwaya told a press conference earlier this month when he announced the new system. Every overseas outpost should have a chef, and busy locations, including the Japanese embassies in the United States and China, have two. Currently, about a dozen out of some 230 missions have a vacancy, according to the ministry. The chefs will be contracted for two years and can be extended for one year. Currently, the length of their contracts tends to be open-ended as they are linked to the terms of their higher-ranked colleagues such as ambassadors and consuls general. The new system is expected to enable the chefs to "draw their career paths more easily," Iwaya said. Other improvements include adding funds to the chefs' salaries for them to use in bringing their spouses to countries where they work, the ministry said. Related coverage: Sakai knives a cut above for foreign visitors to Japan Japan's "ekiben" boxed meals for train travelers rolled out in Zurich Japan sake-brewing added to UNESCO intangible heritage
