Philippines Commends Japan’s Role in Promoting Stability in the Indo-Pacific

In a significant acknowledgment at the 14th Japan-ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Forum in Fukuoka, the Philippines’ Department of National Defense (DND) praised Japan for its pivotal role in maintaining a free, stable, resilient, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. DND Undersecretary Ignacio Madriaga, during the forum held on February 11, 2025, expressed gratitude for Japan’s proactive stance amidst evolving security challenges. The forum, hosted by Japanese Vice Minister of Defense for International Affairs Kano Koji, saw participation from representatives of eight ASEAN member states, Timor-Leste, and the ASEAN Secretariat. The event underscored Japan’s commitment to enhancing defense and security cooperation with ASEAN through the Japan-ASEAN Ministerial Initiative for Enhanced Defense Cooperation (JASMINE), focusing on areas like maritime security, air domain awareness, cyber security, climate responses, and space. Madriaga highlighted Japan’s contributions to ASEAN’s capacity-building efforts under JASMINE, which complement ASEAN-led initiatives such as the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus. On the sidelines, Madriaga also engaged in discussions with counterparts from Japan and Singapore to assess and plan future bilateral and regional defense collaborations.