Overview
- Speaking in Manila, President Ferdinand Marcos said ties with Japan have moved beyond trade and aid into fast‑moving defense cooperation.
- Marcos will travel to Japan as a state guest on May 26–29 to meet Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, with security coordination set as the main agenda.
- He welcomed Japan’s April move to ease arms export rules that now permit more lethal equipment sales, with local reporting pointing to an early transfer of a used escort ship to the Philippines.
- He called the Japan Self‑Defense Forces’ first full role in the recent US‑Philippine Balikatan exercises an important step that could change the rules of the game in future drills.
- He warned that Chinese maritime pressure and any Taiwan crisis could reach the Philippines’ north and said he will push de‑escalation through regular foreign‑minister talks with Beijing within about a month.