The Philippines has been ramping up its ties with neighbours and other countries to counter what it describes as China’s growing aggression in the South China Sea. - Photo: Reuters file
MANILA: The Philippines and Japan will hold a 2+2 foreign and defence ministerial meeting in Manila on July 8 to discuss regional defence and security matters, amid increasing tensions in the South China Sea.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defence Minister Minoru Kihara will meet with their Philippine counterparts Enrique Manalo and Gilberto Teodoro Jr, Manila's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday (June 28).
“The four ministers are expected to discuss bilateral and defence and security issues affecting the region, and exchange views on regional and international issues,” the ministry said.
The 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministers Meeting is the highest consultative mechanism between the Philippines and Japan.
The first 2+2 meeting was held in 2022 in Tokyo.
The meeting comes as the Philippines and Japan are negotiating a reciprocal access agreement (RAA) that would allow their respective militaries to visit each other’s soil.
The Philippines has been ramping up its ties with neighbours and other countries to counter what it describes as China’s growing aggression in the South China Sea.
In February 2023, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed in Tokyo that their militaries would cooperate on disaster relief, a deal that paved the way for RAA negotiations with Japan. - Reuters
