President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is scheduled to leave for Japan next week for a state visit, with security and energy as the main topics he intends to discuss with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

One of the key matters Marcos plans to take up during their meeting in Tokyo is the security cooperation between the Philippines and Japan, which is also tied to the recently signed Reciprocal Access Agreement between the two countries.

"I expect that we will be talking about many things in Japan, but of course, security cooperation will be a very important part of that discussion," the President said. 

(Inaasahan kong marami tayong pag-uusapan sa Japan, ngunit siyempre, ang kooperasyon sa seguridad ay magiging napakahalagang bahagi ng talakayang iyon.)

The Chief Executive also cited Japan's significant contribution to the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

As current Chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Marcos likewise intends to discuss the situation in the South China Sea, where both the Philippines and Japan are facing similar security concerns.

"I will also bring up to see what it means in terms of further cooperation and assistance, not only to the Philippines but to ASEAN as well. As Japan and the Philippines have experienced the same difficulties in terms of coercive acts, in terms of different gray zone, so to say, tactics that are being exercised in the South China Sea and in all of China," Marcos stated. 

(Babanggitin ko rin upang makita kung ano ang ibig sabihin nito pagdating sa karagdagang kooperasyon at tulong, hindi lamang sa Pilipinas kundi pati na rin sa ASEAN. Dahil ang Japan at Pilipinas ay parehong nakaranas ng mga kahirapan pagdating sa mga mapilit na hakbang, sa iba't ibang gray zone tactics na ipinatutupad sa South China Sea at sa buong China.)

Aside from this, the President noted that the Philippines will also seek Japan's support in terms of energy supply amid the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

"And so we will again try to engage Japan and to see how it will work together – together with Japan, as Japan has now taken a more active role when it comes to the – when it comes to the subject of energy and energy supply," he added. 

(Kaya muli naming susubukang makipag-ugnayan sa Japan at tingnan kung paano ito gagana – kasama ang Japan, dahil mas aktibong papel na ang ginagampanan ng Japan pagdating sa usapin ng enerhiya at suplay ng enerhiya.)

According to Marcos, Asian countries should begin looking for alternative sources of oil.

"I don't think that we will go back to the old system where the majority of the petroleum products that are coming out of the Strait of Hormuz are going to Asia. I think Asia is going to start looking for alternative measures in case this happens again," he pointed out. 

(Sa palagay ko, hindi na tayo babalik sa lumang sistema kung saan karamihan ng mga produktong petrolyo na nagmumula sa Strait of Hormuz ay napupunta sa Asya. Sa tingin ko, magsisimula nang maghanap ang Asya ng mga alternatibong hakbang kung sakaling muling mangyari ito.)

The Chief Executive stressed that affected countries must act before tensions in the Middle East escalate again and further endanger the supply of petroleum products. He cited the planned ASEAN Grid and oil reserve for ASEAN member countries as examples.