President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on the Philippines and Japan to deepen their strategic partnership, saying both maritime democracies must help defend a rules-based order amid rising tensions and new vulnerabilities in the Indo-Pacific.
In his address before the joint session of Japan’s National Diet in Tokyo on Thursday, Marcos said the two countries’ relationship has transformed over the past 70 years from postwar reconciliation into a broad partnership anchored on mutual trust, economic cooperation, security ties, and shared democratic values.
“Peace is the foundation upon which our shared prosperity is built,” Marcos said, as he stressed the need for nations to uphold international law, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
The President said the Philippines and Japan, both maritime nations, remain committed to ensuring that seas are “open, secure, and governed by rules, not by force.” He noted that the Philippines will mark in July the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea, which he said reflects Manila’s resolve to pursue peaceful and lawful means in resolving disputes.
Marcos also cited Japan’s role in strengthening Philippine maritime and defense capabilities through the Reciprocal Access Agreement, the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, and Japan’s Official Security Assistance program.
He said the two countries’ cooperation now extends beyond defense to humanitarian assistance, disaster response, law enforcement, transnational crime prevention, and maritime safety.
Tracing the history of bilateral relations, Marcos said the normalization of diplomatic ties on July 23, 1956, marked the beginning of a new chapter between the two nations after the war. He said Japan’s reparations later became the foundation of long-term development cooperation, which evolved into economic aid, investment, and trade.
Marcos described Japan as one of the Philippines’ top trading partners, a leading source of foreign direct investment, and its largest provider of development assistance, particularly in infrastructure, connectivity, and human development.
He also said the Philippines contributes to Japan’s economy through agricultural exports and the nearly 360,000 Filipinos working in key sectors such as healthcare, education, manufacturing, agriculture, and services.
The President called for the modernization of the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement as both countries expand cooperation in digital innovation, energy transition, resilient supply chains, smart agriculture, artificial intelligence, space development, clean energy, and critical minerals.
Marcos said economic security must become a shared priority, stressing the need to reduce undue dependencies and ensure that progress is not disrupted by coercion or global shocks.
As the two countries commemorate 70 years of normalized relations under the theme “Weaving the Future Together,” Marcos said Manila and Tokyo must build a partnership that delivers peace, prosperity, and new possibilities for their peoples and the wider region.
He also underscored the Philippines’ ASEAN chairship this year, saying Manila and Tokyo would continue working within ASEAN, the United Nations, and other multilateral platforms to promote a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
“Our partnership has reached a pinnacle, but yet we continue to aim for higher summits,” Marcos said, as he urged both nations to become an example of strategic collaboration grounded in peace, shared opportunity, and innovation.