Intervention by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit
Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae,
Your Majesty, Excellencies,
Good afternoon.
At the outset, I wish to extend my warmest congratulations to Prime Minister TAKAICHI Sanae on her historic election as Japan’s first woman Prime Minister.
Your leadership marks a new chapter not only for Japan, but for our region.
We warmly welcome you to the ASEAN family, and we look forward to working closely with you in advancing our shared priorities.
Your Majesty, Excellencies,
For more than half a century, ASEAN and Japan have cultivated a partnership grounded in trust, friendship, and common vision.
In 2023, we reaffirmed this bond through the Joint Vision Statement and its Implementation Plan.
As Partners for Peace and Stability, ASEAN works closely with Japan in maritime security to advance regional stability, enhance maritime domain awareness, and strengthen our collective crisis response capabilities.
The Philippines likewise strongly supports the Japan–ASEAN Ministerial Initiative for Enhanced Defense Cooperation, or JASMINE, as a forward-looking framework that brings our defense cooperation to a new level amid a rapidly evolving security environment, and embodies our shared commitment to a rules-based, free, and open Indo-Pacific.
As Partners for Co-creation of the Economy and Society of the Future, the Philippines reaffirms our steadfast commitment to deepening ASEAN–Japan economic cooperation through the full and effective implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the ASEAN–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP).
We also stand firmly behind the Future Design and Action Plan 2023–2033 as a bold and forward-looking blueprint that places innovation, sustainability, and public–private partnership at the core of our shared ambition.
It charts a path for ASEAN and Japan to seize leadership in the green and digital economies, while advancing cutting-edge fields such as automotive innovation and artificial intelligence.
As Heart-to-Heart Partners across Generations, the Philippines underscores the importance of anchoring our people-to-people ties as the bedrock of our ASEAN–Japan partnership.
In a time marked by the shifting tides of geopolitics and uncertainty, it is our young people, our educators, our artists, and our cultural workers who carry forward the torch of understanding, empathy, and enduring friendship between our regions.
Your Majesty, Excellencies,
On the South China Sea, it is regrettable that incidents continue to occur in the West Philippine Sea that have put the lives of Philippine personnel and the safety of our vessels and aircraft at risk.
These incidents notwithstanding, the Philippines will continue to remain firm, calm, and resolute in its commitment to the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and to achieving productive negotiations towards a Code of Conduct that is effective, substantive, and consistent with international law, particularly UNCLOS.
This commitment is shared throughout all levels of the government, which desires to conclude an effective and substantive Code of Conduct that can effectively govern the behavior of parties at sea.
With regard to the situation in the Korean Peninsula, the Philippines expresses serious concern and strongly denounces the ballistic missile launches conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
We renew our call on the DPRK to promptly cease these activities and abide by all international obligations, including relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and to commit to peaceful and constructive dialogue.
Accordingly, we stress the urgency of addressing pressing humanitarian concerns, including the long-standing issue of the abduction of Japanese citizens, which the Philippines has consistently supported toward a just and lasting resolution.
Your Majesty, Excellencies,
The Philippines eagerly anticipates welcoming you all to our shores in 2026.
We are excited to celebrate our shared achievements, chart new horizons of cooperation, and reaffirm the values of friendship and solidarity that have long defined the ASEAN–Japan partnership.
Together, we can ensure that this enduring bond continues to flourish for generations to come.
— END —