AMBASSADOR Koji Haneda and Japan’s Colonel Kazunobu Akutsu hosted a reception for the 65th anniversary of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) on June 20 at the former’s residence.
Distinguished guests, including Defense Undersecretary Reynaldo B. Mapagu, government officials from Japan and the Philippines, members of the diplomatic corps, as well as Japanese nationals joined the reception to celebrate the founding of the JSDF and further strengthen relations between the two countries.
In his welcome remarks, Haneda expressed confidence that the “golden age of strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines” will continue and further deepen in the new Japanese imperial era called “Reiwa,” or “beautiful harmony.”
Noting the dynamic relations between the two nations in the area of defense cooperation and exchanges, Haneda cited the September 2018 goodwill visit of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel JS Kaga in Subic Bay, where President Duterte went onboard and observed its ongoing humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief activity.
The ambassador also mentioned the participation of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force in “Kamandag ‘18” last October to strengthen its interoperability with Philippine forces in humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
Likewise, he spoke about the first turnover of UH-1H helicopter spare parts to the Philippine Air Force in March, and assured that further deliveries will continue.
At the policy level, Japan’s envoy cited last week’s politico-military, military-to-military and maritime dialogues in Tokyo, where senior officials of both countries discussed wide-ranging issues to further both countries’ security cooperation. These, he said, clearly indicate that the Japanese-Philippine security partnership has now reached a higher level.
During the event, defense-related Japanese companies set up exhibits of defense-equipment models, as well as distributed company and product brochures.