MANILA, April 29 -- Visiting Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru on Tuesday called for continued coordination between Japan and the Philippines to counter coercive tactics in the East and South China Seas, as he reaffirmed Tokyo's commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific anchored on international law.

In a statement delivered after a bilateral meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the Malacanan Palace in Manila, Ishiba underscored the need for both countries to stand firm against actions that aim to alter the status quo.

"I hope that our two nations can continuously communicate with each other to oppose attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas by force or coercion and to realize free and open I...