The state visit saw key developments in Japan-US space coordination, including an agreement for a Japanese astronaut to join one of NASA's lunar missions.
The Japan-US-Philippine trilateral focused on deterring China, which had trampled on international law in the South and East China Seas and the Taiwan Strait.
After Kishida addressed the US Congress, the three leaders, met in a tripartite summit focused on China's threatening stance in East Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
Leila de Lima, as human rights commissioner, justice secretary, and senator probed into extrajudicial killings carried out by Duterte's alleged "death squad."
Japan, G7 countries, Australia, and EU call for respecting international law after China's Coast Guard and militia fire water cannons at a Philippines vessel.
A quasi-alliance with the Philippines will be important for Japan's security and economy, and will complement the two countries' shared concerns about China.
Like Japan, the Philippines is part of the "first island chain" and strategic terrain for defending the region's small democratic bloc from an aggressive China.
PM Kishida hopes to advance cooperation with ASEAN nations Malaysia and the Philippines to counter China's aggressive push for control of the South China Sea.
The trip was a positive step in standing up against China's aggression. But what are the Philippines and India's common interests, and where do they diverge?
Late on February 7, Philippine authorities deported to Japan the last two home invasion suspects, after local court cases against them were dismissed.
Nalgae killed more than 100, drove hundreds of thousands out of their homes, and wiped out ¥3.32 billion JPY worth of agricultural goods in the Philippines.
China, which denies the authority of the international body, continues threatening behavior and unilateral changes to the status quo in the South China Sea.
