Marcos off to Tokyo for state visit

The Philippines will propose to Japan the possibility of importing some of its weapons and military equipment, including aircraft and missile and radar systems, when President Marcos goes on a state visit to Tokyo from May 26 to May 29.

Mr. Marcos said on Monday he would discuss with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi how Tokyo’s new defense posture, particularly the lifting last month of its post-World War II ban on exporting lethal weapons, could benefit the Philippines and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in terms of defense and security cooperation.

The President said the two “have experienced the same difficulties in terms of coercive acts, in terms of different gray zone tactics, being exercised in the South China Sea and in all of South China Seas.”