菅首相、インド・フィリピン訪問調整　大型連休、中国にらみ結束確認

　菅義偉首相は今月下旬からの大型連休に合わせて、インドとフィリピンを訪問する方向で調整に入った。新型コロナウイルスの感染状況を見極めた上で最終判断する。複数の政府関係者が７日、明らかにした。
　菅氏はインドのモディ首相、フィリピンのドゥテルテ大統領とそれぞれ首脳会談に臨む。両氏との対面での会談は初めて。
　政府は「自由で開かれたインド太平洋」構想をけん引する日米豪印４カ国（通称クアッド）の枠組みを重視しており、インドとのさらなる結束を図りたい考え。また、中国が東・南シナ海で覇権主義的な動きを強めていることを念頭に、フィリピンとの関係強化も目指す。（2021/04/07-10:56）

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is considering visiting India and the Philippines during the Golden Week holiday period from late April to early May, Japanese government officials said Wednesday.
   The prime minister will make his final decision on the tour after carefully assessing the situation of the novel coronavirus pandemic, according to the officials.
   In the two countries, Suga hopes to have talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, respectively. This will be the first time for Suga to meet the two leaders face to face.
   Japan values the Quad cooperative framework involving itself, the United States, Australia, and India, or countries that lead the free and open Indo-Pacific initiative. Suga's planned visit to India is aimed at further enhancing Japan's ties with the South Asian country, the officials said.
   The Japanese government also hopes to strengthen its relationship with the Philippines, taking into account China's increasingly hegemonic moves in the East and South China Seas.