Manila, a Southeast Asian nation that Japan occupied during WWII, is now allying with Tokyo in response to China’s growing assertiveness.
Japan and the Philippines have signed a significant defense treaty permitting the deployment of Japanese soldiers for joint drills in Manila. The Reciprocal Access Agreement allows the Filipino military to enter Japan for joint combat training, and officials from the Philippines and Japan stated that it would be effective once ratified by their respective legislatures.
The signing of the military accord, which Kamikawa hailed as “a groundbreaking achievement,” should significantly enhance the countries’ defense cooperation. The recent clashes at Second Thomas Shoal, South China Sea, have raised serious concern over China’s dangerous and escalating actions. A rule-of-law international system free from interference in the contested seas has been a priority for the global community.
Japan has formed its first defense treaty in Asia with the Philippines, which included live-fire drills. In 2022, Japan inked a deal with Australia along these lines, and in 2023, it did the same with Britain. Under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Japan plans to increase its military might by doubling its defense budget over the next five years. This will put Japan in third place globally, after only the US and China.
To reassure its Asian friends oppose China, the US has been fortifying an Indo-Pacific arc of military alliances, including any potential clash over Taiwan in the future. During a trilateral meeting in April at the White House, the leaders of the United States, Japan, and the Philippines—allies of the United States by treaty—reiterated President Biden’s “ironclad” pledge to protect the two countries.
The islands in the East China Sea are the source of Japan and China’s long-running territorial dispute. Since last year, there have been heated confrontations in the South China Sea involving coast guard and naval ships from the Philippines and China.
