Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba yesterday held talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, in a move to advance security and economic ties between two of Washington’s closest Asian allies amid rising Indo-Pacific tensions.
Ishiba’s visit to the Philippines comes at a crucial time, with both nations confronting growing concerns over regional security and China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea, while navigating global trade tensions sparked by sweeping US tariffs, and increased friction between the US and China.
Ishiba said he discussed with Marcos the far-reaching impact of US-China trade tensions on the global economy and multilateral free-trade frameworks. He assured Marcos he would heed the concerns of Japanese companies operating in the Philippines to find solutions.
Photo: Reuters
The two leaders also explored ways to further defense and economic ties, with talks centered on Japan’s official security assistance program, of which the Philippines was among the first beneficiaries.
Ishiba said that Japan and the Philippines had started talks on a potential information security agreement, which would enable exchanges of confidential information and boost security cooperation.
Japan and the Philippines last year signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement, the first of its kind Japan has signed in Asia, that would allow deployment of forces on each other’s soil.
While the Philippines has ratified the pact, it still awaits legislative approval in Japan. Once in place, it would ease the entry of equipment and troops for combat training and disaster response.
Ishiba and Marcos also commited to promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific, and upholding a rules-based international order.
“I hope that our two nations will continue to closely communicate with each other to oppose attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China seas by force or coercion,” Ishiba said at a joint news conference with Marcos.
Taiwanese Olympic badminton men’s doubles gold medalist Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) and his new partner, Chiu Hsiang-chieh (邱相榤), clinched the men’s doubles title at the Yonex Taipei Open yesterday, becoming the second Taiwanese team to win a title in the tournament. Ranked 19th in the world, the Taiwanese duo defeated Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju of South Korea 21-18, 21-15 in a pulsating 43-minute final to clinch their first doubles title after teaming up last year. Wang, the men’s doubles gold medalist at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, partnered with Chiu in August last year after the retirement of his teammate Lee Yang
FALSE DOCUMENTS? Actor William Liao said he was ‘voluntarily cooperating’ with police after a suspect was accused of helping to produce false medical certificates Police yesterday questioned at least six entertainers amid allegations of evasion of compulsory military service, with Lee Chuan (李銓), a member of boy band Choc7 (超克7), and actor Daniel Chen (陳大天) among those summoned. The New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office in January launched an investigation into a group that was allegedly helping men dodge compulsory military service using falsified medical documents. Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) has been accused of being one of the group’s clients. As the investigation expanded, investigators at New Taipei City’s Yonghe Precinct said that other entertainers commissioned the group to obtain false documents. The main suspect, a man surnamed
US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer began talks with high-ranking Chinese officials in Switzerland yesterday aiming to de-escalate a dispute that threatens to cut off trade between the world’s two biggest economies and damage the global economy. The US delegation has begun meetings in Geneva with a Chinese delegation led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng (何立峰), Xinhua News Agency said. Diplomats from both sides also confirmed that the talks have begun, but spoke anonymously and the exact location of the talks was not made public. Prospects for a major breakthrough appear dim, but there is
The number of births in Taiwan fell to an all-time monthly low last month, while the population declined for the 16th consecutive month, Ministry of the Interior data released on Friday showed. The number of newborns totaled 8,684, which is 704 births fewer than in March and the lowest monthly figure on record, the ministry said. That is equivalent to roughly one baby born every five minutes and an annual crude birthrate of 4.52 per 1,000 people, the ministry added. Meanwhile, 17,205 deaths were recorded, resulting in a natural population decrease of 8,521, the data showed. More people are also leaving Taiwan, with net