2023/10/13 / Last updated : 2023/10/13 東京支店 blog

PRIME MINISTER KISHIDA WILL VISIT THE PHILIPPINES NEXT MONTH

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is scheduled to make an official visit to the Philippines and Malaysia during the period from the 3rd to the 5th of the upcoming month. During these visits, he has affirmed collaborative efforts with the leaders of both nations, looking forward to a special summit meeting in Tokyo in December, marking the 50th anniversary of their amicable partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The primary objective of this summit is to monitor China’s expansion into the South China Sea.

The invitation for the Prime Minister’s visit to the Philippines was extended by President Marcos, who had previously visited Japan in February. During these exchanges, the two leaders concurred on enhancing cooperation, particularly in the realm of security. Unlike the previous administration led by President Duterte, which gravitated towards China, President Marcos is striving to strengthen relations with Japan and the United States. Simultaneously, tensions have been escalating in their dealings with China, as the latter created obstacles at Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, a region with disputed territorial claims, in September.