Philippines-Japan ties
Ambassador of Japan in the Philippines, Koshikawa Kazuhiko, on Monday expresses gratitude to Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr for expressing readiness to assist in the repatriation of Japanese soldier's remains.
"I would like to thank Sec. Abalos for his warm messages about PH readiness to assist us in the repatriation of JP soldiers' remains. JP will steadfastly work with PH to guarantee the proper coordination of the repatriation process," the envoy tweets.
Japan and the Philippines agree to boost security ties in their first foreign and defense ministerial meeting on Saturday, amid worries over China's increasingly assertive maritime activities.
It was the first so-called two-plus-two talks between the two US allies, both of which have overlapping territorial claims with Beijing.
"Our two countries share serious concern about the situation in the East and South China Sea and we agreed to ensure observing international laws including the 2016 arbitral award to the Philippines" in disputes with China, as well as the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, Japan's foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi says. — AFP
The Philippines and Japan have reaffirmed their strategic ties following a phone call between Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa on December 8.
The Department of Foreign Affairs says the two top diplomats discussed bilateral cooperation, including on addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mindanao peace process, and maritime security and safety.
"Secretary Locsin said that the Philippines values Japan’s statements of support for the Arbitral Award and for an international law-based order in the SCS, adding that such formal demonstrations of support send a message of respect for outcomes of diplomatic and legal processes, as well as strengthen the legal order over the seas," the DFA says in a statement released Monday.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will undertake an official visit to the Philippines from January 8 to 9.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. will hold a bilateral meeting with his Japanese counterpart to discuss the advancement of Philippine-Japan strategic partnership on political dialogues, economic and infrastructure cooperation, defense and maritime security, and Japan's support for the transition to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Motegi will also pay a courtesy call to President Rodrigo Duterte. — Patricia Lourdes Viray
The Philippines and Japan sign a memorandum of cooperation for the recovery and repatriation of the remains of World War II Japanese soldiers.
This comes after solons earlier today urged the House of Representatives to look into the removal of the statue of a comfort woman along Roxas Boulevard in Manila Bay. — with Pia Lee Brago
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