Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba to visit Manila 

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His visit will 'deepen and improve' existing ties in economy, development, and defense engagements, says the Palace

MANILA, Philippines – Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru will be visiting the Philippines from April 29 to 30, Malacañang announced on Wednesday, April 23.

The two-day trip will be Ishiba’s first to Manila as Prime Minister. Ishiba took office in October 2024. 

In an announcement to the media, Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Marcos will be hosting Ishiba and his spouse, Ishiba Yoshiko, for engagements inside the Palace on April 29.  

“The meeting of President Marcos and Prime Minister Ishiba will aim to deepen and improve economic and development cooperation, political and defense engagements, and people-to-people exchanges. Both leaders are also expected to exchange views on regional and global developments, and explore new pathways towards peace and stability under the ‘Strengthened Strategic Partnership’ between the two countries,” said Malacañang. 

Marcos and Ishiba met on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asean Nations Summit in Laos back in October 2024. 

Ishiba’s visit to Manila is preceded by official visits by his foreign minsiter, Iwaya Takeshi, and his defense minister, Nakatani Gen, in January and February 2025. In both visits, Iwaya and Nakatani emphasized the importance of not just Philippine-Japan bilateral ties, but the trilateral relationship between Japan, the Philippines, and the United States. 

The Philippines and Japan have strong ties both in trade and security. Japan is one of the Philippines’ four strategic partners, alongside Vietnam, Australia, and South Korea.

In 2024, the two countries signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), which would allow soldiers from both countries to train in each others’ soil. The RAA has been ratified by the Philippine Senate and awaits approval from the Japanese Diet before it takes effect. 

Japan has played a large role in the Philippines’ efforts to improve its maritime and archipelagic defense. Most of the Philippine Coast Guard’s newest vessels are Japan-made and were acquired through loans. Manila is also among the first recipients of Tokyo’s Official Security Assistance. Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force has joined the Philippine Navy several times in joint sails in the West Philippine Sea, both bilaterally and multilaterally. 

A small contingent of Japanese self-defense forces will be part of this year’s Balikatan, or the joint military exercise between the Philippines and the United States. – Rappler.com