Statement of Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. after the PH-Japan bilateral meeting.

January 10, 2020

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said he had candid exchanges with his counterpart, Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu on issues such as the rule of law in the maritime commons and the situation in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
Locsin also said they also discussed future acquisitions from Japan to further modernize the Philippine Armed Forces and improve its maritime capability.
He also expressed the Duterte administration’s gratitude to Japan for its support in Mindanao, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Locsin also welcomed Motegi’s “pledge of continued, substantial financial and technical support under the most concessional terms as only Japan can offer as the Duterte administration goes into the final push” in its infrastructure drive.
He noted that this is “an era” that the people will see the revival of the “age of rail” in the Philippines, beginning with the country’s first subway and the North-South Commuter Railway.