Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba arrives at his office in Tokyo on March 27. (Takeshi Iwashita)

Arrangements are being made for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to visit the Philippines during the Golden Week holidays this spring, multiple government sources said on March 26.

The visit, planned for late April or early May, is aimed to reinforce the “quasi-alliance” between Japan and the Philippines, particularly in light of China’s growing military presence in the South China Sea.

This will be the first visit by a Japanese prime minister to the Philippines since Fumio Kishida’s visit in November 2023.

Japan and the Philippines have been rapidly strengthening their bilateral ties in recent years, as relations between China and the Philippines deteriorate over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Under the Ishiba administration, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Defense Minister Gen Nakatani visited the Philippines earlier this year.

The growing security cooperation between Japan and the Philippines includes the Official Security Assistance program, through which Japan provides defense equipment and support.

Ishiba’s planned visit to Manila also aims to demonstrate Japan’s close ties with the Philippines to the United States, hoping to ensure that the U.S. remains committed to the region’s security.

Some Japanese officials are concerned that President Donald Trump’s unilateral diplomatic approach could undo the progress made in trilateral cooperation during the previous administration of Joe Biden.

(This article was written by Shino Matsuyama and Taro Kotegawa.)

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