Deeper ties with Japan, Vietnam
Amid a slew of depressing news, from surging prices of basic goods to the destructive intramurals in the Senate, the reports of substantial gains from improving relations with Japan and Vietnam came like a breath of fresh air.
Last week, President Marcos came home from a “very constructive and highly productive” four-day state visit to Japan with P266.3 billion in new and expanded investment pledges in such areas as precision manufacturing, semiconductors, tourism and shipbuilding that are expected to generate around 10,300 direct and indirect jobs for Filipinos.
That was followed up by the equally fruitful two-day state visit to the Philippines by Vietnamese President Tô Lâm that was marked by the signing of 15 agreements covering a wide range of sectors such as trade, technology, tourism, and agriculture.
The significance of the diplomatic achievements, however, extends far beyond the hard numbers.
The deliberate nurturing of these relationships represents the strategic strengthening of alliances in this part of the world to confront common daunting challenges, including territorial incursions in the South China Sea that threaten international navigation as well as escalating trade wars and turmoil in the Middle East that are undermining economic growth.
Dependable allies
By turning their focus away from the West and closer to home where full economic and human potential has yet to be unleashed, these nations are showing unity in their thinking that together, they can help each other better withstand these persistent crises.
Prior to the state visit, for example, Japan participated in the 2026 Balikatan exercises in the Philippines, not as an observer but a full participant. This was the first time that Japan sent combat-capable forces to Philippine soil since World War II, when Japan forcibly occupied the Philippines, demonstrating the radical shift in Japan’s military stance and also a recognition of the importance of the Philippines’ role in maintaining regional security amid rising tensions.
Indeed, from hated imperial invader, Japan has become one of the country’s most dependable allies.
Japan has consistently ranked as the country’s top source of foreign direct investments and it is also the largest source of official development assistance (ODA) with Japanese funds accounting for close to 61 percent of total ODA that the Philippines received from 1966 to 2023.
Regional powerhouse
These funds are used to finance large-scale infrastructure projects such as the Metro Manila Subway and the North-South Commuter Railway as well as support for communities through disaster response, policy support, and livelihood development to help the Philippines achieve its development targets, a fitting celebration of 70 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the world’s fourth largest economy.
Vietnam, meanwhile, has been the darling of investors over the past few years and is fast becoming an economic force to reckon with in the region, attracting its fair share of Filipino investors that helped the country rise from the ashes of the Vietnam War.
As the Philippines and Vietnam prepare for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027, both countries are working to build a regional “powerhouse” by combining the strengths of two “like-minded” economies, according to Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Ferdinand Ferrer.
Vietnam was the Philippines’ 11th-largest trading partner in 2025, with total bilateral trade reaching $7.17 billion and projected to grow further this year. It’s also one of the country’s largest sources of imported rice and, increasingly, electric vehicles via VinFast.
Positive signals
To honor the enhanced relationship with these countries, the Philippines elevated its relationship with Japan to a historic “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” amid heightened geopolitical uncertainties.
Relations with Vietnam, meanwhile, was elevated to “Enhanced Strategic Partnership,” with the two presidents reaffirming their “unyielding commitment to regional stability and underscored the importance of international law,” including the 2016 arbitral award that recognized the Philippines’ rights over the West Philippine Sea, in maintaining a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region.
The Marcos administration should take full advantage of the positive signals from these friendly nations and ensure that these upgraded relationships will lead to tangible and timely benefits for the Philippines.
The government must likewise keep in mind that even as they offer attractive deals, Vietnam and Japan are also primarily looking out for their own interests. Thus, the Philippines should be equally zealous about protecting its own interests when those pledges of cooperation and investment are translated into actual projects.
That way, when the bonds get tested by economic and geopolitical crises, they will endure, rather than break.
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