Climate and energy justice activists associated with the Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) convened outside the Embassy of Japan on Roxas Blvd. in Pasay City on Friday, November 3, 2023, the day Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived for a two-day state visit. Their purpose was to stage a protest rally opposing Japanese fossil fuel projects.
During this visit, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is scheduled to spend two days in the country, highlighted by a speech before the joint session of Congress on Saturday.
It is expected that he will make announcements regarding a security aid package and forthcoming negotiations for a defense pact. These initiatives aim to strengthen Japan’s alliances, particularly in light of China’s current assertiveness in the region.
In meetings between President Bongbong Marcos and the Prime Minister, a significant focus will be on addressing the escalating assertiveness of China in the West Philippine Sea.
(Report & photography by Benjamin Cuaresma/ai/mnm)