Sayonara

I cannot forget the first time I met Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko, Japan’s Ambassador to the Philippines, whose stint in our country has come to an end.

I remember it because I couldn’t help but notice that for a foreigner, he wore the Barong Tagalog exceptionally well, donning it even better than some Filipinos.

Beyond the Barong Tagalog though, I remember him for fulfilling his tour of duty here with vigor, passion and dedication, plus the trademark warmth and Japanese hospitality, some dose of humor and always with a gastronomic adventure of Japanese cuisine.

His term officially ended on March 5 and in his farewell message to journalists, Amb. Koshikawa said he enjoyed his stint in Manila.

Golden age

“In recent years, our two nations have forged stronger bonds, marking a golden age in our bilateral relations. This achievement would not have been possible without your commitment and dedication in highlighting the significant milestones that have defined our journey.

“Your insightful coverage and tireless efforts have also played a pivotal role in fostering mutual understanding between our peoples,” he said.

As Japan and the Philippines embark on the next chapter of its diplomatic journey, he said, he looks forward to the continued partnership of the media with the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines and his successor, Amb. Endo Kazuya.

“Lastly, I hope to visit the Philippines again as a tourist soon,” he said in his March 1 letter to journalists.

‘Dramatic expansion’

As it turns out, the National Day Reception hosted by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines last Feb. 23 was Amb. Koshikawa’s farewell gig of sorts.

That night, he emphasized the strong relations between Manila and Tokyo.

“Our bilateral relations have evolved beyond traditional areas and made great progress in a variety of new areas with warm support of the Filipino people. Last year, in particular, our relations witnessed a dramatic expansion of cooperation through the leaders’ mutual visits.”

In a world that is still in turmoil and uncertainty, Amb. Koshikawa said he looks forward to Japan and the Philippines joining hands with like-minded countries to contribute to peace and prosperity in our region and in the world.

“Under the strong leadership of both countries and your support, I hope cooperation between Japan and the Philippines will grow to even greater heights,” he said.

Japan, no doubt, has proven its strong support to the Philippines. Its recent statement on the latest incident in the South China Sea is a testament to this.

“Japan reiterates its grave concern on the repeated dangerous actions in the South China Sea, including the recent use of water cannon by the Chinese Coast Guard which resulted in Filipino injuries and a collision. Japan will continue to stand with the Philippines and cooperate with like-minded countries to maintain the peace and stability in the region.”

I also recently met with the Embassy of Japan’s Political Counsellor Tamura Maiko, who shared with me the news that Japan has relaxed its strict regulations on defense equipment transfers.

This is part of efforts to strengthen security ties with like-minded countries.

At the same time, the move also bodes well for Japan’s domestic industries through weapons and ammunition exports.

This easing of rules on exporting defense gears does not undermine Japan’s philosophy as a peace-loving nation.

Three principles

“Japan will control the overseas transfer of defense equipment and technology based on the following three principles and carry forward with the transfer of defense equipment and technology in the joint public and private efforts. The overseas transfer of facilities related to arms production will continue to be treated in the same manner as defense equipment and technology,” according to documents from the government of Japan.

The three principles are:

1) Clarification of cases where transfers are prohibited.

This means that overseas transfer of defense equipment and technology will not be permitted when the transfer violates obligations under treaties and other international agreements that Japan has concluded or when the transfer violates obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolutions or when the defense equipment and technology is destined for a country that is party to a conflict.

2) Limitation to cases where transfers may be permitted as well as strict examination information disclosure.

Cases will be examined strictly while ensuring transparency. Specifically, overseas transfer of defense equipment and technology may be permitted in such cases as the transfer contributes to active promotion of peace and international cooperation, or to Japan’s security from the viewpoint of implementing international joint development and production projects while cooperating with Japan in the security area including its ally, the United States.

3) Ensuring appropriate control regarding extra-purpose use or transfer to third parties.

More concretely, the government will, in principle, oblige the government of the recipient country to gain its prior consent regarding extra-purpose use and transfer to third parties. However, significant cases that require especially careful consideration from the viewpoint of Japan’s security will be examined at the National Security Council.

The Philippines can also benefit from this, in case the need arises and depending on the situation.

For sure, there’s a wide area of cooperation that Manila and Tokyo can look forward to in the coming years.

Amb. Koshikawa, during his stint here, has done his part in strengthening relations between the two countries.

Farewell and salute to the good ambassador for a job well done. We can look forward to Amb. Endo Kazuya continuing this journey.

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Email: [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen on FB.