Japan-Philippines Defense Minister’s Telephone Conversation

May 12, 2020
Japan Ministry of Defense
in Japanese

On May 12, 2020, Minister KONO had a telephone conversation with Secretary of National Defense of the Republic of the Philippines, Delfin N. Lorenzana.

  1. The two ministers exchanged views on issues such as the roles to be played by the defense authorities given the global spread of COVID-19. Minister Kono explained about the activities and infection-preventative measures Japan Self-Defense Forces have undertaken in their operation on the cruise ship Diamond Princess which resulted in having no deployed member infected with the virus, and analysis by the SDF Central Hospital by using a presentation document (see attached). Secretary Lorenzana also explained about the recent activities and measures taken by in the Philippines.
  2. The two ministers also exchanged views on the current regional security issues including the South China Sea and the East China Sea in light of the current events occurring in the region, and shared understanding that they strongly oppose attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by force and any activities that add to the tension and that free and open maritime order based on the rule of law is important.
  3. Further, two ministers exchanged views on defense cooperation and exchanges between Japan and the Philippines. Minister Kono, taking into consideration the implications of COVID-19, expressed the importance of both countries’ maintaining seamless defense posture and of continued and strengthened bilateral defense cooperation to uphold and reinforce the Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
  4. The two ministers agreed on the following three points bearing in mind the circumstances arisen by the spread of COVID-19;
  1. sharing information, knowledge and lessons learned about the measures taken by the defense authorities towards overcoming COVID-19 at the earliest stage;
  2. necessity of sharing threat recognition based on the current circumstances and potential effects of the spread of COVID-19 on defense policy of each country; and
  3. promoting vigorously defense cooperation and exchanges to uphold and reinforce the Free and Open Indo-Pacific while maintaining communication between the defense authorities.