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Japan foreign minister looks to attend Marcos inauguration in Manila

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Kyodo News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi speaks to Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. (not pictured) during a meeting at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo, Japan, April 9, 2022. Rodrigo Reyes Marin, Pool/EPA-EFE/File" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/overseas/06/21/20220621-yoshimasa-hayashi.jpg"/><figcaption>Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi speaks to Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. (not pictured) during a meeting at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo, Japan, April 9, 2022. <em>Rodrigo Reyes Marin, Pool/EPA-EFE/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>TOKYO—Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi plans to visit Manila for Ferdinand Marcos Jr.&#x27;s June 30 inauguration as president of the Philippines, diplomatic sources said Tuesday.</p><p>Hayashi&#x27;s attendance at a presidential inauguration there would be the first by a Japanese foreign minister since 2004, when Yoriko Kawaguchi was among the dignitaries. It comes as the Japanese government looks to build a relationship with the new Philippine administration amid China&#x27;s active maritime advancement.</p><p>Japan and the United States are increasing their vigilance against Chinese military movements past what Beijing views as the &quot;first island chain,&quot; a sea defense line stretching from the Japanese archipelago through Taiwan and the Philippines.</p><p>Japan and the United States regard the Philippines as having become an important focal point for regional security.</p><p>In addition to witnessing the inauguration, Hayashi is also making arrangements for talks with Marcos, and intends to confirm a partnership toward realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific region, the sources said, as China&#x27;s aggressive pursuit of sovereignty claims in the South and East China seas has upset its neighbors.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/edFdEMZ5XxA?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi plans to visit Manila for Marcos’ June 30 inauguration as president, diplomatic sources said Tuesday.