PH welcomes Japan power aid initiative
TOKYO—President Marcos on Thursday met with former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and discussed Japan’s $10-billion Partnership on Wide Energy and Resources Resilience (Powerr Asia) initiative.
The President discussed regional energy security and resilience with Kishida who is currently the supreme adviser to the Parliamentary Association of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC).
The Presidential Communications Office said the meeting focused on strengthening Philippines-Japan cooperation on renewable energy, low-carbon technologies and long-term energy security under the AZEC framework.
The Japanese initiative comes amid heightened concerns over global energy supply because of the war in the Middle East.
The President also expressed the Philippines’ readiness to cochair the AZEC Leaders’ Summit in Manila in November together with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as part of the country’s chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
Japan remains among the Philippines’ key partners in energy transition, infrastructure and climate-related investments.
Marcos thanked Takaichi for expressing support for the Philippines’ chairmanship of Asean this year and for backing the country’s bid for a nonpermanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term.
Fifth meeting
It was the fifth time the President met with the Japanese leader in the seven months since she became prime minister. The first meeting was at the Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur in October 2025. They met three other times between October 2025 and May 2026.
Their discussions on Thursday centered on maritime security, defense cooperation, energy resilience and economic investment.
Marcos raised the possibility of acquiring Japanese military equipment, including aircraft, missiles and radar systems and hopes to become the first country to acquire Japan-made weapons since Takiichi lifted the ban on the export of lethal weapons last April.
Japan is expected to transfer Abukuma-class frigates and TC-90 aircraft to the Philippines as part of its first post-ban defense shipments.
The two leaders revisited the 2024 Reciprocal Access Agreement and the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, which facilitate joint military training and logistical support.
Defense cooperation
Under the two agreements, Japan deployed 1,400 personnel from its Ground, Maritime, and Air Self-Defense Forces to participate in the Philippines’ Balikatan exercises with the United States, Australia, France, Canada and New Zealand last April.
The Philippine has received strategic military aid under Japan’s Official Security Assistance, including five coastal radar systems that Manila received last January and deployed in inspecified locations around the country.
However, the two leaders made no comments about the Philippine’s request to avail of the Powerr Asia initiative that Takiichi launched last April to strengthen energy security in Asia.
The Powerr Asia framework commits approximately $10 billion in financial assistance to help Asian nations procure emergency crude oil and stabilize supply chains.
