Japan’s Shinzo Abe pledges US$8.7 billion aid package for Philippines
The five-year aid package will help infrastructure development although Abe is also trying to counter China’s growing presence in the Asia-Pacific region
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged a 1 trillion yen (US$8.7 billion) aid package, including government aid and public investments, for the Philippines over the next five years to help its infrastructure development, in a bid to strengthen strategic ties with the key nation in the Asia-Pacific region amid China’s growing presence.
“We will leverage Japanese technology and know-how to the fullest extent to positively cooperate for the improvement of infrastructure in Metro Manila and the whole of the Philippines,” said Abe in a joint press conference in Manila after meeting with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.
Abe and Duterte said they agreed to enhance maritime and security cooperation in their talks at the Malacanang Palace. Abe said China’s military buildup in disputed waters of the South China Sea influences regional peace and stability, and is a global concern.
“We will continue to forge ahead with our efforts to advance the rule of law in order to secure the waters in our region,” Duterte said. “As maritime nations, the Philippines and Japan have a shared interest in keeping our waters safe and secure from threats of any kind.”