Japanese PM visits Manila to boost defense cooperation

PM Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Pic/AP

Japan's prime minister began a two-day visit on Friday to the Philippines, where he's expected to announce a security aid package and upcoming negotiations for a defense pact in a bid to boost Tokyo's alliances in the face of China's alarming assertiveness in the region.

After a red-carpet welcome at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was set to hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on bolstering overall relations, primarily defense ties. China's increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea will be high in the agenda, Philippine officials said.

Today, Kishida will become the first Japanese premier to address a joint session of the Philippine congress, underlining how the Asian nations' ties have transformed since Japan's brutal occupation of the Philippines in World War II.

Two weeks ago, China's ships separately blocked then hit a Philippine coast guard vessel and a supply boat near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. Japan immediately expressed its strong support to the Philippines and the United States renewed its warning that it's obligated to defend its treaty ally if Filipino forces come under an armed attack in the contested waters.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever