MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has pitched for new regional peace efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula, citing its importance in Asia’s development and in the interest of all stakeholders.

“But beyond what is happening…we also have continuing great concern on the actuations, shall we say, of North Korea with Japan, (would) be in very much, what we could call the line of fire. But this is something that although we would say is not top of mind in terms of security and defense,” President Marcos said on Wednesday during a courtesy call of Komeito Party Chief Representative Yamaguchi Natsuo in Malacañang.

“We consider it a critical issue that, really, we in the region must work together very, very hard to try to alleviate the tensions, to try to make all the proponents of peace in the region be the dominant voice.”

The President said he strongly supports the concept of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida who has put forward in the various fora regional peace discussions, as he noted that aside from other issues, economic peace and economic strength must also be discussed because they are interconnected.

In supporting the idea, Marcos mentioned the partnerships and agreements that Japan and the Philippines have forged not only on a bilateral basis but also on a multilateral basis with regard to maintaining stability in the West Philippine Sea.

“I refer to the tripartite trilateral agreements that we have been talking about and have started to implement in terms of joint patrols, in terms of joint exercises for the two maritime forces of Japan and the Philippines,” he said.

“In that regard, we must acknowledge the very important contributions that Japan has made to the Philippines in terms of not only training, not only in terms of equipment, but also in the agreements that we have been able to forge between our two countries in terms of cooperation, in terms of preserving the peace and allowing the free conduct of trade and shipping the South China Sea.”

For his part, Yamaguchi said Japan actively supports the Philippines into entering the upper-middle income countries, and would like to see more cooperation in various areas including defense and maritime security.

“So we would like to contribute to your development in these areas further. And also, we should not allow unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force. And in that sense, also in the maritime security areas, the Komeito Party has been involved in program called the maritime safety and security policy program,” Yamaguchi said.

The Philippines and Japan maintain strong defense cooperation with the two countries signing the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology Agreement in February 2016 that paved the way for acquisitions and procurements that have contributed to the Philippine defense posture.

In 2015, the two sides signed the Memorandum on Defense Cooperation and Exchanges between the DND and Japan’s Ministry of Defense.

In June this year, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Japan Coast Guard, and US Coast Guard conducted an afloat Trilateral PCG-USCG-JCG Exercise near Bataan to enhance interoperability and share best practices in common coast guard missions.

The Non-Project Grant Aid amounting to US$7.78 million for the Satellite Data Communications System (SDCS) for the PCG was signed between the Philippines and Japan this August, which is seen to enhance PCG’s capacity to monitor the country’s vast maritime jurisdiction, particularly in the West Philippine Sea. (PND)