Japan and the Philippines have reinforced their security ties in response to an “increasingly severe” security environment, Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani said Monday after meeting with his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro Jr., in Manila.
Nakatani’s two-day visit, which included inspections of Philippine air bases, underscored both nations’ commitment to enhancing operational collaboration. He emphasized the necessity of bolstering defense cooperation and announced plans to establish a “strategic dialogue between high-level operational officers.”
Security Concerns in the South China Sea
The visit follows a January foreign ministers’ meeting where Japan and the Philippines pledged to strengthen security ties, particularly in countering China’s assertiveness in key maritime trade routes, including the disputed South China Sea.
Teodoro Jr. reaffirmed the shared commitment to upholding international law, stating, “We have a common cause of resisting any unilateral attempt to reshape international law by force.”
In recent months, heightened tensions have been seen between China and the Philippines, with the Chinese navy and Coast Guard vessels repeatedly confronting Philippine ships. In December, a Chinese coast guard vessel used a water cannon and allegedly “sideswiped” a Philippine Fisheries Department vessel. Last week, a Chinese navy helicopter reportedly came within three meters of a Philippine surveillance plane carrying journalists over the contested Scarborough Shoal.
Japan’s Support for Philippine Military Modernization
Japan has played a significant role in financing the Philippines’ efforts to modernize its South China Sea patrol craft and maritime surveillance systems, including radar installations.
Both countries share security concerns over China’s territorial claims. While Beijing claims nearly the entire South China Sea, an international tribunal has ruled that these claims lack legal basis. Similarly, Japan faces territorial disputes with China over the uninhabited Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Islands in China) in the East China Sea.
US Alliance and Regional Security Initiatives
As longtime allies of the United States, both Tokyo and Manila are integral to Washington’s broader efforts to counterbalance China’s influence in the Pacific.
In a significant development, the Philippine Senate recently ratified a key security pact with Japan that will allow the deployment of troops on each other’s territory. The agreement, awaiting ratification in Tokyo, will enable increased joint military exercises and closer defense collaboration.
