Manila, Jan. 9 -- Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu will visit to the Philippines and hold a bilateral meeting with his counterpart, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, on Jan. 15, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday.

The two will review key developments in the Philippines-Japan "Strengthened Strategic Partnership" and discuss regional and international matters, including the Philippines' chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The two top diplomats will also cover the situation in the South China Sea during the talks.

At the 20th East Asia Summit on the sidelines of the ASEAN Leaders' Summit in Malaysia in October 2025, Motegi aired Tokyo's objection over unilateral atte...