Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s visit to the Philippines this week reflects the two countries’ rapidly deepening alliance, analysts say – pointing to a landmark defence pact nearing full ratification as a symbol of Manila’s emergence as Tokyo’s “most reliable partner in Southeast Asia”.
The Philippines’ Presidential Communications Office confirmed in a statement last week that Ishiba would undertake an official trip to the country on Tuesday and Wednesday, during which he will meet with President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr.
The meeting between both heads of state “will aim to deepen and improve economic and development cooperation, political and defence engagements, and people-to-people exchanges,” according to the statement.
Ishiba and Marcos Jnr are also expected to discuss regional and global developments, as well as explore new pathways towards peace and stability under their “Strengthened Strategic Partnership” – a framework established in 2015 to advance shared principles and goals in the region.
Relations between the two countries are now “at the highest levels diplomatically”, said Julio Amador, interim president of the Foundation for the National Interest in the Philippines and founder of policy advisory firm FACTS Asia. He pointed to the signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) – a defence pact allowing both nations’ troops to be stationed on each other’s soil – as a milestone.
