Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has arrived in the Philippines to further boost an alliance in the face of China’s growing assertiveness in the region and he plans to symbolically board a Japan-built Philippine patrol ship that has repeatedly clashed with the Chinese coast guard.

MANILA (Reuters) -Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held talks on Tuesday with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, in a move to advance security and economic ties between two of Washington's closest Asian allies amid rising Indo-Pacific tensions.

Ishiba’s visit to the Philippines comes at a crucial time, with both nations confronting growing concerns over regional security and China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea, while navigating global trade tensions sparked by sweeping US tariffs, and increased friction between the US and China.