Manila: Japan and the Philippines have agreed to deepen their defense partnership in response to the increasingly tense security environment in the Indo-Pacific region, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani announced on Monday.
During a meeting in Manila, Nakatani and his Philippine counterpart, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, discussed regional security challenges, including escalating maritime tensions in the East and South China Seas.
“The security environment surrounding us is becoming increasingly severe, and it is necessary for the two countries as strategic partners to further enhance defense cooperation and collaboration to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific,” Nakatani stated through a translator.
Expanding Military Cooperation
Both nations committed to advancing military exchanges, establishing a high-level strategic dialogue, and enhancing intelligence-sharing mechanisms. The move marks another step in the strengthening of security ties between the two U.S. allies, who share concerns over China’s growing assertiveness in the region.
Over the past two years, Japan and the Philippines have expanded their defense relationship, culminating in the signing of a landmark military pact in 2023 that permits the deployment of forces on each other’s territory.
Regional Security Concerns
Japan and China continue to confront each other over contested islands in the East China Sea, known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China. Meanwhile, the Philippines has frequently clashed with China in the South China Sea, particularly around disputed shoals and atolls that fall within Manila’s exclusive economic zone.
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In a demonstration of Japan’s security commitment, Nakatani visited military bases in northern Philippines on Sunday, including a naval station equipped with a coastal radar system donated by Japan under its 600 million yen ($4 million) security assistance program in 2023.
Expanding Japan’s Security Assistance
The Philippines was one of the first beneficiaries of Tokyo’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) initiative, designed to bolster the deterrence capabilities of partner nations.
In December, Japan and the Philippines signed a second security agreement under which Japan pledged to provide the Philippine Navy with rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) and additional coastal radar systems. The deal is expected to further enhance Manila’s maritime defense capabilities.
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As regional tensions continue to rise, the deepening security partnership between Japan and the Philippines underscores their shared commitment to maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific.
