Japan and the Philippines have agreed to strengthen their defense collaboration and discuss measures to protect shared military information, citing mutual concerns over increasing regional assertiveness, The Associated Press reports.
The agreement was reached during a meeting in Manila between Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, where discussions focused on concerns regarding activities in the South China Sea and East China Sea.
Both Japan and the Philippines are treaty allies of the United States and have been vocal in expressing concerns over regional activities.
Secretary Teodoro stated that the Philippines is seeking to enhance defense relations with Japan “against unilateral attempts by to change the international order and the narrative.”
Minister Nakatani said that he and Teodoro agreed “to strengthen operational cooperation,” including joint and multinational defense trainings, port calls, and information sharing.
The Philippines previously signed an agreement with the United States to enhance the exchange of sensitive military intelligence and technology, facilitating the sale of weaponry to the Philippines.
Nakatani and Teodoro “firmly concurred that the security environment surrounding us is becoming increasingly severe and that it is necessary for the two countries as strategic partners to further enhance defense cooperation and collaboration in order to maintain peace and stability in Indo-Pacific.”
Japan and China have a longstanding territorial dispute over islands in the East China Sea, while Chinese and Philippine vessels have been involved in confrontations in the South China Sea in recent years.
The agenda for the meeting included the “expansion of bilateral cooperation, especially in the context of the Reciprocal Access Agreement.”
Japan and the Philippines signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement last year, enabling the deployment of forces for joint military exercises in each other’s territory. The agreement has been ratified by the Philippine Senate and awaits ratification by Japan’s legislature to take effect.
The agreement with the Philippines marks Japan’s first such accord in Asia. Similar agreements have been signed with Australia and Britain.
Japan has been taking steps to bolster its security and defense capabilities, including developing a counterstrike capability and increasing defense spending to double the amount in a five-year period to 2027.
While some countries have concerns about Japan’s increased military role and spending, Japan and the Philippines have been steadily strengthening defense and security ties due to shared concerns over regional security.
