Japan, Philippines strengthen defense ties amid regional tensions

Japan and the Philippines have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening defense cooperation in response to an “increasingly severe” security landscape in the Indo-Pacific region, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani announced on Monday.

During a meeting in Manila with his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro, Nakatani emphasized the necessity of bolstering military ties between the two nations, citing growing challenges in regional security, particularly in the East and South China Seas.

“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 to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific,” Nakatani stated through a translator.

As part of their commitment, Japan and the Philippines agreed to expand military exchanges, establish a high-level strategic dialogue, and enhance intelligence sharing. The strengthened partnership comes as both countries express shared concerns over China’s assertive actions in contested waters.

Over the past two years, security ties between these two U.S. allies have deepened significantly. In 2023, Manila and Tokyo signed a landmark military pact allowing the deployment of their forces on each other’s soil, signaling a new era of defense collaboration. The two nations also share direct disputes with China—Japan frequently faces off with Beijing over the Senkaku Islands, known as the Diaoyu in China, while the Philippines continues to clash with Chinese forces over territorial waters in the South China Sea.

Nakatani’s visit to the Philippines included an inspection of military bases in the northern region, including a naval station that houses a coastal radar donated by Japan as part of its $4 million security assistance package last year. Manila was among the first beneficiaries of Tokyo’s official security assistance program, aimed at enhancing the defense capabilities of partner nations.

In December, Japan and the Philippines signed an additional security agreement under which Tokyo will supply the Philippine Navy with rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIB) and more coastal radar systems, further solidifying their defense partnership.