Japan open for talks on info security pact with Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Japan is open to negotiating and concluding an information security agreement with the Philippines, the spokesman for its foreign ministry said yesterday.

“We have not decided yet whether or not we conclude such an agreement between the two countries, but since cooperation activities, joint activities between the two countries have been increasing, we believe that information security agreement will be useful to further promote such cooperation,” Toshihiro Kitamura told reporters at a briefing.

He said an information protection agreement would ensure proper protection of sensitive security information shared among relevant authorities of the two countries.

“We are ready to work with the Philippine government for discussion and conclusion of the information security agreement,” he said.

The Japanese official’s declaration came on the last day of the official visit to Manila of Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru.

On Tuesday, Ishiba said Japan agreed with the Philippines to begin negotiations on a defense agreement known as the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement or ACSA.

The pact would allow the provision of food, fuel and other necessities when Japanese forces visit the Philippines for joint training under the Philippines-Japan Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) that was signed last year.

After meeting at Malacañang, Ishiba and President Marcos lauded progress made after the implementation of the RAA and agreed to commence negotiations on an ACSA to reinforce operational collaboration.