GILBERTO ASUQUE
CHARGE’ D AFFAIRES
TOKYO, JAPAN
June 19, 2014

THERE ARE TWO KEY ISSUES THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL BE TAKING
UP WITH PM ABE ON THE 24TH. FIRST , IS THE REGIONAL SECURITY
ISSUES, COOPERATION BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN IN
ADDRESSING THE ISSUES IN THIS REGION, IN THE WEST PHILIPPINE
SEA AND ALSO IN THE AREA OF JAPAN IN THE EASTERN PORTION.
AND THEN ALSO WHATS GOING TO BE A KEY AGENDA ITEM IS OF
COURSE THE BANGSAMORO PEACE AGREEMENT. THE CONFERENCE
ON THE CONSOLIDATION OF PEACE IN MINDANAO IT’S
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IMPORTANT ASPECT, I THINK IT’S A KEY PROGRAM OF PRESIDENT
AQUINO’S POLICY TO BRING LASTING AND DURABLE PEACE IN
MINDANAO.

THIS CONFERENCE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT WILL ADDRESS THE
ISSUES THAT NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE PEACE AGREEMENT WILL
BE LONG LASTING AND DURABLE. AND JAPAN PLAYS AN IMPORTANT
ROLE IN ENSURING THAT TAKES PLACE IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT
ASSISTANCE –TRAINING OF PEOPLE IN MINDANAO ON GOOD
GOVERNANCE, TRANSPARENCY AND THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
THAT PRESIDENT AQUINO HAS BEEN ESPOUSING FOR THE
DURATION OF HIS PRESIDENCY.

THE COMPONENT OF THE FOREIGN POLICY OF THE PRESIDENT
WITH THE ADVICE AND SUPPORT WITH THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN
ADDRESSING THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA ISSUE—TO RAISE THE
CAPACITY AND LEVEL OF AWARENESS OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE
FILIPINOS FOR MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS. THAT MEANS THAT
THE FILIPINO PEOPLE AND THE INSTITUTIONS THAT HELP THEM
ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE SOVEREIGNTY AND JURIDICTION OVER
THEIR MARITIME ENTITLEMENTS. THESE RIGHTS ARE EFFECTIVELY
IMPLEMENTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW
ESPECIALLY THE 1982 UN CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA.
JAPAN SUPPORTS THE PHILIPPINE POLICY TO RAISE OUR CAPACITY
IN LEVEL OF AWARENESS FOR MARITIME DOMAIN, CAPACITY TO
MONITOR. FOR THAT PURPOSE THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT HAS
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SUPPORTED THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT IN TERMS OF
ASSISTANCE TO PROVIDE THE PHILIPPINE COASTGUARD WITH TEN
PATROL CRAFTS. THERE ARE FORTY METERS, WHAT’S CALLED THE
MULTI-RESPONSE VEHICLE, SEA VESSELS FOR PURPOSES OF
INCREASING THE CAPABILITIES OF THE COASTGUARD TO MONITOR
THE MARITIME DOMAIN , EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE AND
EFFECTIVELY ENFORCE PHILIPPINE LAWS WITHIN THAT MARITIME
ZONE. SO, JAPAN HAS PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AS WELL
AS
MEANS IN ORDER TO DELIVER 10 MULTIROLE RESPONSE
VEHICLE FOR MRRV’S TO THE PHILIPPINE COASTGUARD.

IT IS EFFICIENT THAT THROUGH THE SYSTEMS AND SUPPORT OF
THE TRANSPORATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS ALWAYS THE
COASTGUARD IS UNDER THE DOTC. WE ENVISONED TO SEE
ATLEAST THREE OF THOSE PATROL VESSELS DELIVERED BY NEXT
YEAR. AND THE REMAINING SEVEN TO BE DELIVERED BY EARLY
PART OF 2016. NOW, IN ADDITION TO PATROL CRAFTS, JAPAN IS
ALSO PROVIDING ASSISTANCE
FOR THE TELECOMMUNICATION
SYSTEM BECAUSE YOU MAY HAVE THE PLATFORM OR THE VESSELS
BUT YOU NEED THE COMMUNICATIONS SYTEM IN ORDER TO
ENSURE THAT THE VESSEL IS ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE
COMMAND AND CONTROL OFFICE AND THE COASTGUARD. SO,
JAPAN IS PROVIDING THE TECHNICAL AND THE HUMAN RESOURCE
SUPPORT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION
AND REALIZATION OF
PRESIDENT AQUINO’S POLICY OF MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS.
ASIDE FROM THAT, THERE ARE ALSO OTHER ASSISTANCE BY JAPAN
LIKE CONTINUES TRAINING FOR THE PHILIPPINE COASTGUARD,
SECURITY AND MARITIME ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION , SAFETY OF
NAVIGATION. ALL ASPECTS THAT WILL STRENGTHEN THE CAPACITY
OF THE PHILIPPINES AND ITS IMPLEMENTING AGENCY TO ENFORCE
ITS SOVEREIGN RIGHT AND JURISDICTION OVER ITS MARITIME
ENTITLEMENT UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW.

FIRST OF ALL THE AMABASSADOR AND THE EMBASSY
HAS
REITERATED HIS APPRECIATION TO JAPAN ESPECIALLY FOR ITS
ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OF TYPHOON YOLANDA IN LEYTE, IN
SAMAR. THE ASSISTANCE CAME NOT ONLY FROM THE JAPANESE
GOVERNMENT BUT ALSO FROM PRIVATE CITIZENS OF JAPAN. THEY
HAVE MADE PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EFFORTS OF THE
PHILIPPINES TO ASSIST THE VICTIMS OF THE TYPHOON. IN TERMS
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OF THE ASSISTANCE OR COOPERATION BY THE PHILIPPINES-JAPAN.
WELL, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE KEY FACTOR, THE MAIN
ENDOWMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES IS REALLY THE SKILLS OF ITS
FILIPINO WORKERS. AND SO, HERE IN JAPAN, WE HAVE SKILLED
WORKERS, CAREGIVERS AND NURSES WHO UNDERGO TRAINING
AND LANGUAGE TRAINING SKILLS TRAINING IN ORDER TO MEET
THE STANDARS OF JAPAN FOR CAREGIVING AND FOR NURSING. AND
SO, WE ARE PROVIDING, WE ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE
MANPOWER NEEDS OF JAPAN IN THE LIGHT OF THE CURRENT
DEMOGRAPHIC SITUATION OR CIRCUMSTANCE OF JAPAN.

OF COURSE, THE INVESTMENT RELATIONS BETWEEN THE
PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN IS VERY PRODUCTIVE AND I THINK OUR
TRADE ATTACHE’ WILL GIVE YOU THE WHOLE PICTURE IN DETAIL.
TOURISM ALSO, JAPAN AS YOU WILL KNOW HAS THE LEAST VISA
REQUIREMENTS FOR FILIPINOS. THEY HAVE ADOPTED THE POLICY
OF NO VISA UNDER CERTAIN ARRANGEMENTS. SO, FILIPINOS WHO
INTEND TO TOUR TO JAPAN WOULD BE ABLE TO ARRANGE THEIR
TRAVEL THROUGH THE LISTED TRAVEL AGENCIES OF WHICH THE
VISAS WILL BE PROVIDED, SO, IT HAS RELAXED THE VISA
REQUIREMENT.

OVERALL, IT OPENS UP THE INTERACTION BETWEEN FILIPINOS AND
JAPANESE.
WITH
THE
RELAXATION
OF
THESE
TRAVEL
REQUIREMENTS THEN BOTH NATIONALITIES WILL BE ABLE TO
INTERACT. INFACT, CONTRIBUTING TO THIS EFFORT IS THAT THERE
ARE TEN FLIGHTS A DAY OF AIRLINE COMPANIES FROM THE
PHILIPPINES TO JAPAN AND VICE VERSA. THESE INRASTRUCTURE
AND POLICIES WILL ENABLE THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT TO
FURTHER ENHANCE, IMPROVED THE BILATERAL
RELATIONS
BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. AND THAT IS ONE POINT THAT THE
PRESIDENT WILL BE DISCUSSING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER
WHICH IS OPPORTUNITIES FOR FURTHER ENHANCEMENT OF
BILATERAL RELATIONS. ASIDE OF COURSE FROM THE REGIONAL
ISSUES THAT WILL FORM PART OF THE MAIN AGENDA ITEMS FOR
THE SUMMIT BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER ABE.
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
THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN HAVE ESTABLISHED ARRANGEMENTS
WHERE BY KEY AGENCIES WILL BE ABLE TO CONDUCT DIALOGUE
ON A REGULAR BASIS. AND SO WE HAVE
JOINT BILATERAL
MEETING
THAT
IS
ON
THE
POLITICAL
LEVEL.
THE
UNDERSECRETARIES OF
FOREIGN MINISTRIES OF THE TWO
COUNTRIES THEY HAVE AN
ANNUAL FOR CONSULTATION TO
REVIEW THE OVERALL BILATERAL RELATIONS. ASIDE FROM THAT,
YOU HAVE A DIALOGUE, A REGULAR DIAOLOGUE BETWEEN THE
MINISTRY DEFENSE OF JAPAN AND THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE
PHILIPPINES. THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AND THE MINISTER OF
DEFENSE THEY HOLD REGULAR CONSULTATIONS DISCUSSING
REGIONAL ISSUES AND HOW BOTH COUNTRIES CAN CONTRIBUTE
TO THE ENHANCEMENT OF REGIONAL PEACE. THIS DIALOGUE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SECURITY OFFICIALS TO SHOW HOW THEY
CAN HELP EACH OTHER IN CONTRIBUTING TO REGIONAL PEACE AS
WELL AS EFFORTS TO ADDRESS OTHER SECURITY CONCERNS NOT
ONLY IN THIS REGION BUT ALSO IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
WE MAY RECALL THAT THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN HAVE
PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR THE GLOBAL EFFORTS TO COMBAT PIRACY
IN THE SOMALI OF THE COAST OF SOMALIA. SO, JAPAN HAS
PROVIDED ITS COASTGUARD SUPPORT FOR THE COMBINED
MARITIME FORCE AND THE PHILIPPINES HAS ALSO PROVIDED ITS
SUPPORT BY WAY OF ITS LIASON OFFICER IN CMF IN COMBINED
MARITIME FORCE. SO, WITHIN THE CAPABILITIES OF BOTH
COUNTRIES WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR THE OBJECTIVE OF
BOTH COUNTRY’S CONTRIBUTED FOR THE GLOBAL EFFORTS OF
MAINTAINING REGIONAL PEACE AND GLOBAL SECURITY.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR JAPAN FOR SUPPORTING THE
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES BY WHICH THE PHILIPPINE IS
ADDRESSING THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA ISSUE. NAGPAPASALAMAT
NGA KAMI SA JAPAN, KAY PM ABE DAHIL SA PAG SUPORTA NIYA SA
PATAKARAN NG ATING PAMAHALAAN TUNGKOL DITO SA SIGALOT SA
WEST PHILIPPINE SEA.

ANG PRINSIPYO PO NATIN AY KAILANGAN PO NATING HANAPAN NG
SOLUSYON ITONG ISYU NA ITO SA WEST PHILIPPINE SEAS SA
PAMAMAGITAN NG TINATAWAG NATING RULES-BASED APPROACH
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UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW. NUNG GINAWA PO NATIN ANG ATING
ARBITRATION NAGSABMIT PO TAYO NG KASO SA ARBITRAL PANEL SA
ILALIM PO NG UNCLOS, AY SINUPORTAHAN PO TAYO NG JAPAN. ANG
SABI PO NILA, TAMA PO YAN DAHIL PO YAN AY SUMANGAYON SA
RULES-BASED APPROACH AT SA BASE PO SA INTERNATIONAL LAW.
ANG PANANAW NG JAPAN AT PILIPINAS AY MAGKATUGMA NA TAYO
AY GUSTO NATIN HANAPAN NG SOLUSYON ANG PAGKAKAIBANG
PANANAW NG BANSA SA PAMAMAGITAN NG PROSESO NA NASA
INTERNATIONAL LAW. YAN PO YANG PROSESO NA SINASABI KO SA
UN CHARTER. SA UN CHARTER SINASABI NA KAILANGAN PO
PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE DISPUTE UNDER THE VARIUOS
SYSTEMS PROVIDED UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW BILL AND
CHARTER. ANO PO YAN? DAPAT ISANGGUNI PO ANG PROBLEMA,
MAMILI PO TAYO, MAARI SA INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE,
INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL FOR THE LAW OF THE SEA, ARBITRATION
NEGOTIATION BASTA PO MATAHIMIK NA PARAAN. HINDI PAGGAMIT
NG DAHAS O LAKAS MILITAR O KUNDI YUNG MGA INTIMIDATION,
HINDI PO YUN ANG TAMANG PROSESO. KAYA ANG JAPAN
SUMASANGAYON SA GINAGAWA NATIN. SANA SA PAGTULONG NG
JAPAN MAENGANYO NATIN ANG IBANG BANSA NA MAINDINTIHAN
NILA NA TAYONG PILIPINAS KASAMA ANG JAPAN AYAW NATIN NG DI
MAAYOS NA PAGRESOLBA NITONG USAPIN NG PILIPINAS AT TSINA
GAYUNDIN ANG JAPAN AT TSINA. MAARI PO NATING PAGUSAPAN ITO
PERO MAARI PO TAYONG PUMASOK SA BATAS PANDAIGDIG ANO
PONG BASEHAN NYAN, YAN ANG INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON
THE LAW OF THE SEA. ANG PILIPINAS, JAPAN AT TSINA AY PUMIRMA
PO SILA. SA UNCLOS . AT MAY OBLIGASYON NG BAWAT BANSA NA
PUMIRMA SA UNCLOS NA TUPARIN ANG KANILANG OBLIGASYON AT
TUNGKULIN DITO SA USAPING ITO SA PAMAMAGITAN NG TINATAWAG
NA GOOD FAITH AT PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES. KAYA
MAHALAGA ANG RELASYON NG PILIPINAS AT JAPAN TUNGKOL SA
GINAGAWA NATING PARAAN PARA MABIGYAN NATIN NG MATAGALAN
NA SOLUSYON PARA DITO SA ISYU WITH CHINA. SO, WHAT WE’RE
LOOKING FOR REALLY IS A DURABLE AND LASTING SOLUTION ON
THE BASIS OF RULE OF LAW AND INTERNATIONAL LAW.

KASI ANG ISSUE ITONG PAG PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF DISPUTE
KAILANGAN USAPAN. PERO HINDI LAMANG USAPAN MASKI NA SAAN
ANG DIREKSYON, KAILANGAN MAGBIGAY NG ISANG BASEHAN NA
LAHAT SUSUNOD AT ATIN PONG SINASABI JAPAN AT PILIPINAS KAMI
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AY SUMASANGAYON NA BIGYAN NG MATAHIMIK NA SOLUSYON PERO
DITO LANG SA PRINSIPYONG ITO—RULES-BASED APPROACH. HINDI
YUNG KANYA KANYANG SASABIHIN MO NA ITO ANG GUSTO NAMIN,
SUMUNOD KAYO, BASTAT SUMUNOD KAYO, HINDI PU-PWEDE YUN.

WE ALL KNOW THAT JICA IS PROVIDING BOTH ASSISTANCE FOR
HUMAN
RESOURCE
DEVELOPMENT
AND
INFRASTRUCTURE
DEVELOPMENT. ALAM NG ATING KABABAYAN NA ANG JICA
NAGBIGAY NG PAG-AARAL TUNGKOL KUNG PAANO NATIN AAYUSIN AT
BABAGUHIN ANG ATING SISTEMA NG TRANSPORTASYON PATI NA RIN
ANG KANILANG SUHESTYON O REKOMENDASYON KUNG SAAN DAPAT
GAGAWIN ANG PANIBAGONG AIRPORT NG PILIPINAS.

IN THAT MANNER THE JICA HAS PROVIDED DIRECTION THE
PATHWAY FOR THE PHILIPPINES TO SEE HOW WE CAN FURTHER
IMPROVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE BOTH INTERMS OF LAND
TRANSPORT AND AIR TRANSPORT. SO, JICA HAS PROVIDED THAT
INPUT. NOW ITS UP FOR THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT TO
CONSIDER THE STUDY AND ITS APPLICABILITY IN TERMS OF THE
LONG TERM PLAN OF THE GOVERNMENT. JICA CONTINUES TO
PROVIDE THAT ASSISTANCE IN BEHALF OF THE JAPANESE
GOVERNMENT AND WE VALUE THAT PARTNERSHIP AND THEIR
SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES.

UNA, GUSTO NAMING IBAHAGI SA ATING MGA KABABAYAN NA ANG
RELASYON NG PILIPINAS AT JAPAN AY NAPAKALAKAS AT MATAAS
ANG URI NG ATING BILATERAL RELATIONS. ANG ATING
KOOPERASYON AY BASE SA MALAKAS NA PAGSASAMA TUNGKOL SA
PAGHANAP NG SOLUSYON SA MGA SULIRANIN AT SA USAPIN SA
ATING REHIYON SA WEST PHILIPPINE SEA AT PATI NA RIN ANG
HINAHARAP NG JAPAN SA KANILANG LUGAR DITO SA PACIFIC
.
ANG USAPIN NG 2 BANSA SA ISYUNG POLITIKAL AY MALAKI ANG
NAIDUDULOT SA KATAHIMIKAN SA PAGBABAGO SA PILIPINAS.
ANDYAN ANG TULONG NG JAPAN PARA MAGING MAAYOS ANG
BANGSAMORO PEACE AGREEMENT YAN ANG ISA SA MGA LAYUNIN
NG PAGBISITA DITO NG PRESIDENTE SA HIROSHIMA PARA

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SIGURADUHIN NA ANG BANGSAMORO PEACE AGREEMENT AY
MATUPAD SA TERMINO NG ATING PANGULO. AT ANG JAPAN AY
NAGBIBIGAY NG LAHAT NG TULONG PARA YAN AY MAISAKATUPARAN.
ANG PATAKARAN NG JAPAN AY TUMULONG SA PAGPALAGANAP NG
KATAHIMIKAN SA REHIYON. SUPPORT FOR PEACE ENDEAVOR IS ONE
OF THE KEY FOREIGN POLICIES OF JAPAN. KAYA ANG ATING
PANGULO AY DUDULOG SA CONSOLIDATION FOR PEACE ON THE
BANGSAMORO PEACE AGREEMENT PARA IPAGSAMA ANG LAHAT NG
KAKAYAHAN AT TAUHAN NATIN PARA MAISUGURO NATIN NA
MAIBABALIK NATIN ANG KATAHIMIKAN SA MINDANAO TO ACHIEVE A
DURABLE AND LASTING PEACE FOR THE AREAS IN SOUTHERN
PHILIPPINES.

YAN ANG MAHALAGANG LAYUNIN NG ATING PAMAHALAAN AT NG
ATING PANGULO AT NG EMBASSY SA TOKYO NA TAYO
AY
SUMUSUPORTA SA LAYUNIN AT PATAKARAN NG ATING PAMAHALAAN
PARA SA ATING BANGSAMORO PEACE AGREEMENT.
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