The presidents of Japan and the Philippines have agreed to strengthen defense relations, allowing Japanese soldiers broader access to Philippine territory. On Thursday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida signed a defense agreement that allows Japanese troops to train for disaster response in the Philippines. The pact might lead to similar accords between Japan and other Southeast Asian states as China asserts its geopolitical influence.
Kishida said the nations will continue negotiations to improve and simplify their armies’ joint exercises and other operations, boost Japanese defense equipment and technology transfers to the Philippines, and strengthen trilateral cooperation with the US. “After our meeting, I can definitely state that our strategic cooperation is stronger than ever as we navigate together the harsh waves buffeting our region,” Marcos said at a joint press conference with Kishida. Taiwan, between Japan and the Philippines, has been a focal point of escalating Chinese military action that Tokyo and Washington worry might develop into war since Beijing has pledged to take back Taiwan, which it considers as a wayward province and not a sovereign state. Marcos’s travel to Japan followed his agreement with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to provide the US increased access to Philippine military stations to counter China’s territorial ambitions. According to a late Thursday joint statement, Philippine and Japanese officials “agreed” to deepen security cooperation and increase defense capabilities through reciprocal port calls, aircraft visits, and the transfer of more defense equipment and technologies.
Japan will give the Philippines air surveillance radar systems and training. The presidents “expressed significant worries about the situation in the East and China Seas and firmly rejected the acts involving force or coercion that may raise tensions,” the statement stated. Kishida and Marcos also committed to boost economic and cyber security and reiterated Japan’s ongoing support for the Philippine coastguard, including the rehabilitation of port facilities at Subic Bay, a former US naval facility. “President Marcos’s visit here offers us encouragement for Japan and the Philippines to further raise our collaboration in recent years to even greater heights as we contribute to the peace and stability of the region and the world community,” Kishida said at the press conference. The nations also extended loans for Philippine infrastructure projects, including $3bn for commuter rail projects.
The deal with Manila follows Kishida’s December security and defense enhancements, including a counterstrike capability that departs from Japan’s post-World War II ethos of self-defense exclusively and increasing defense expenditure within five years. Manila says Japan is its second-largest commercial partner and top bilateral development aid provider. Japan is the Philippines’ sole free trade partner. Marcos invited Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako to the Philippines before meeting with Kishida on Thursday. He will meet with trade and business officials before returning to the Philippines on Sunday.