(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
Firstly, I would like to report on the Japan-Philippines Defense Ministerial Meeting. From February 22 to 24, I will visit the Philippines and hold a defense ministerial meeting with the Secretary of National Defense Teodoro of the country. The Philippines is situated in strategically important areas that occupy key points on Japan’s sea lanes. In addition, the Philippines shares fundamental values with Japan, and is also a U.S. ally like Japan. I believe that strengthening defense cooperation and exchanges with the Philippines has great significance. At the meeting, I intend to engage in substantial discussions with Secretary Teodoro on further strengthening bilateral and multilateral security and defense cooperation toward realizing a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP), while building on the Japan-U.S.-Philippines Leaders’ Video Conference this January, as well as the Japan-Australia-Philippines-Republic of Korea-United States Defense Ministers’ Meeting last November, which I attended. Regarding the bilateral meeting with Secretary Teodoro, it will be the second one since the meeting held on the margin of the ADMM-Plus in Laos last November. I, myself, am very much looking forward to meeting with Secretary Teodoro. I intend to further develop the defense cooperation relationship between Japan and the Philippines, which has great significance for security, taking this visit as an opportunity.
I have one more announcement. It is about the acceptance of Ukrainian injured soldiers to the National Defense Medical College Hospital. Regarding Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Japan has been responding resolutely and standing united with the international community to uphold the peaceful order, and providing all possible support to Ukraine. As part of this support, we have been providing rehabilitation for Ukrainian injured soldiers at the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) Central Hospital since June 2023. To date, we have accepted eight injured soldiers, and six have already been discharged. Now, in addition to the SDF Central Hospital, it has been decided to accept two Ukrainian injured soldiers at the National Defense Medical College Hospital to provide rehabilitation. With regard to the time of acceptance, we are deciding to accept them during March. The Ministry of Defense and SDF will continue to provide maximum support to Ukraine while closely cooperating with the international community.