Japan and Philippines Hold 7th Maritime Dialogue in Tokyo, Reaffirming Cooperation

7th Maritime Dialogue Convenes in Tokyo

The 7th Japan-Philippines Maritime Dialogue was successfully held in Tokyo on November 6, 2025, bringing together high-level officials from both nations to strengthen their strategic partnership and discuss pressing maritime issues. The dialogue served as a crucial platform for reaffirming bilateral cooperation and addressing regional security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.

Key Discussions and Outcomes

During the dialogue, both sides reiterated that maritime cooperation is fundamental to the strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines, both being maritime nations. They engaged in an exchange of views on the recent situations in the waters surrounding their respective countries, including the East China Sea and the South China Sea.

A significant outcome was the confirmation of the importance of bilateral cooperation and coordination with allies and like-minded countries, specifically mentioning Japan-Philippines-US cooperation. The Japanese delegation emphasized the importance of realizing a 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' (FOIP). The Philippine side, in turn, expressed its willingness to strengthen cooperation towards maintaining and enhancing a maritime order based on the rule of law, particularly by respecting the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Arbitral Tribunal's award between the Philippines and China.

Review of Cooperation and Future Directions

The delegations reviewed the current status and future direction of various cooperative initiatives. These included:

• Cooperation through Official Security Assistance (OSA) and Official Development Assistance (ODA).
• Enhancement of maritime domain awareness.
• Cooperation between maritime safety agencies, including the enhancement of maritime law enforcement capabilities.
• Cooperation between defense authorities.
• Collaboration in the field of marine environment.

The Philippine side conveyed its gratitude for Japan's ongoing support in these areas. Both nations concurred to steadily advance concrete bilateral maritime cooperation, building on the outcomes of the Japan-Philippines Leaders' Summit held on October 26.

Delegations and Context

The Japanese delegation was led by Ms. HOKUGO Kyoto, Deputy Director-General of the Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She was accompanied by officials from the National Security Secretariat, National Ocean Policy Secretariat, Ministry of Defense, and the Japan Coast Guard. The Philippine delegation was headed by Mr. Emmanuel Donato K. Guzman, Acting Assistant Secretary of Maritime and Ocean Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs, alongside officials from the National Security Council and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), among others.

This 7th dialogue follows the 6th meeting, which took place in Manila on December 3, 2024. The Japan-Philippines Maritime Dialogue mechanism was formalized following the Japan-Philippines Joint Statement of June 2009, serving as a consistent platform for addressing shared maritime interests and challenges.