Japan and the Philippines Forge Defense Pact Amid Growing Concerns over China’s Aggression
The two countries have agreed to deploy their forces on each other’s territory for joint military exercises.
The Reciprocal Access Agreement, which has been in negotiations since November 2023, was signed by Filipino Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa in Manila. This pact allows both countries to deploy their forces on each other’s territories for joint military exercises, including live-fire drills and disaster response. This agreement marks Japan’s first defense deal in Asia.
This defense pact came after several clashes between the Chinese regime and the Philippines in the South China Sea.
The agreement supports the Philippines’ efforts to establish security alliances and enhance its military capabilities to safeguard Manila’s territorial interests in the South China Sea.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who was present at the signing ceremony, emphasized the significance of the defense agreement, while Ms. Kamikawa described it as a “groundbreaking achievement.”
“This is another milestone in our shared endeavor to ensure a rules-based international order, to ensure peace and stability in the Indo–Pacific and particularly in our region,” Mr. Teodoro shared with reporters after the signing.
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“The Philippines and other Southeast Asian Nations are situated in … a key junction of Japan’s sea lanes; advancing defense cooperation and exchanges with the Philippines is important for Japan,” stated Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara.
The agreement will come into effect upon ratification by both countries’ legislatures, confirmed Philippine and Japanese officials.
During an incident on June 17, Chinese coast guard personnel armed with knives and spears deliberately targeted and rammed Philippine Navy supply vessels during a Philippine humanitarian delivery mission to its outpost in the contested Second Thomas Shoal. The altercation resulted in injuries to several Filipinos, with one individual losing a finger, as per a Philippine military spokesperson.
The Second Thomas Shoal, part of the disputed Spratly Islands, has been occupied by a small Philippine Navy contingent aboard a grounded warship, a situation closely monitored by China’s coast guard and navy in a long-standing territorial dispute.
Ironclad Commitments
Following last month’s incident, the United States reiterated its “ironclad commitments” to the Philippines under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, obligating the nations to support each other in the event of an attack. Washington condemned Beijing’s “dangerous and irresponsible actions to prevent the Philippines from carrying out a lawful maritime operation in the South China Sea.”
Tokyo has signed similar agreements with Australia in 2022 and with the UK last year, and is currently in talks with France.
Tokyo also faces a longstanding territorial dispute with Beijing in the East China Sea over the Senkaku Islands, which Japan controls but are claimed by China as the Diaoyu Islands. Tensions escalated in 2012 when the Japanese government purchased some of the islands from a private Japanese owner.
During the summit, the three leaders censured China’s aggressive behavior and its unfounded claims over almost the whole of the South China Sea, urging Beijing to abide by the 2016 decision from the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which invalidated its maritime claims under international law. They also announced plans for their coast guards to conduct a trilateral exercise in the Indo–Pacific region in the upcoming year.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
