Marcos’ historic Japan trip: what will Philippine leader seek from Takaichi?

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Japan is a key counterweight for the Philippines to deal with its maritime challenges in the South China Sea, analysts say

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Maria SiowPublished: 9:00am, 26 May 2026A rare visit by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr to Japan this week marks Manila’s latest bid to establish a counterweight to Beijing over the South China Sea dispute.

During the four-day trip, the first state visit by a Philippine leader to Japan in over a decade, Marcos is expected to discuss boosting defence and other ties between Manila and Tokyo amid the security challenge posed by China’s growing maritime assertiveness, according to analysts.

Marcos will meet Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday before leaving on Friday, with energy issues also expected to be high on the agenda due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.AdvertisementThe Philippines would discuss the potential import of Japanese military weapons and equipment, including aircraft, missiles and radar systems, Marcos told Japanese journalists in Manila on Monday before his departure.

He said that he would discuss with Takaichi how Tokyo’s new defence posture, particularly last month’s lifting of its post-World War II ban on the export of lethal weapons, could benefit the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries.

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Manila and Tokyo “have experienced the same difficulties in terms of coercive acts, in terms of different grey zone tactics”, particularly in the South China Sea, Marcos said.

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