Japan and the Philippines are set to discuss two potential defense agreements to strengthen their security collaboration and confront aggression in contested Asian waters, a move implicitly directed against China. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced the initiation of these talks during a news conference in Manila with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The leaders also delved into the repercussions of trade tariffs enacted by former U.S. President Donald Trump, along with China’s retaliatory measures, on the global economy and free trade, underscoring their commitment to finding a “better solution.”
Ishiba aims to engage in consultations in the Philippines, where significant Japanese business interests reside, following a trip to Vietnam, another Southeast Asian country facing aggressive encounters with Chinese forces. China has not yet commented on these developments. Beijing lays claim to nearly the entirety of the contested waterway, increasing its coast guard and naval presence, and constructing artificial islands to reinforce its claims. Other involved nations include Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
President Marcos reaffirmed the Philippines’ special strategic partnership with Japan, emphasizing shared values in upholding democratic principles and a rules-based international order. Notably, the East China Sea remains a flashpoint, as Chinese coast guard vessels and aircraft frequently intrude into Japanese-claimed waters and airspace, prompting Japan to occasionally deploy its jets.
“We firmly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo through force or coercion in the East and South China Seas,” declared Prime Minister Ishiba, indirectly censuring China. He expressed hope for continued cooperation between Japan and the Philippines in realizing an Indo-Pacific region grounded in the rule of law and freedom of navigation.
The anticipated defense agreement, known as the Acquisition and Cross-servicing Agreement, would facilitate the provision of essential supplies like food and fuel for Japanese forces during joint training exercises in the Philippines. The legislative ratification of a major defense accord signed the previous year is pending. A second agreement would focus on safeguarding confidential defense and military information. A similar deal was signed by the United States and the Philippines in November to secure the exchange of sensitive military intelligence and technology concerning key weapons supplied to Manila.
Both leaders recognized the significance of their trilateral alliance with the U.S., which remains vocal in warning China about its increasing assertiveness in the region, impacting both Japan and the Philippines, two of its key treaty allies in Asia. However, Trump’s tariffs have posed challenges for alliances, impacting even close security partners like Japan and the Philippines.
“The U.S. tariffs have significantly affected the economies of Vietnam and the Philippines and have also impacted Japanese businesses in these nations,” Ishiba noted before his travels to Southeast Asia.
While in the Philippines, Ishiba is scheduled to meet with Japanese business leaders to listen to their grievances. As part of his visit, he will also pay respects at a Japanese war memorial in Laguna province and then board the BRP Magbanua in Manila. This patrol ship, one of the largest built by Japan for the Philippine coast guard, has recently clashed evinced heightened tensions with the Chinese coast guard, resulting in damage during an encounter at the disputed Sabina Shoal last year. Each nation blamed the other for inciting the confrontation.
Japan remains committed to enhancing the maritime capabilities of the Philippines, having already supplied a dozen patrol ships, and plans for an additional five are underway. Further assistance involves providing radars and other defense equipment to bolster the Philippine military, which faces ongoing budgetary constraints.