Manila
AP
—
Japan and the Philippines signed a defense pact on Thursday that allows the two militaries to provide tax-free supplies of ammunition, fuel, food and other essentials as they conduct joint exercises to boost deterrence against China’s growing aggression in the region and strengthen preparedness against natural disasters.
Japan faces increasing political, trade and security tensions with China, and China was incensed by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments that China’s actions against Taiwan could prompt Japanese intervention.
Japan and the Philippines also have separate territorial disputes with China in the East and South China Seas, and those disputes continue to escalate and threaten to draw in the United States, both Asian treaty allies.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi signed a goods and mutual services agreement with Philippine Foreign Minister Teresa Lazaro in Manila. During the ceremony, Japan also announced new security and economic development aid to the Philippines, including funding to build safe boat shelters and expand internet access in impoverished southern Philippines provinces once affected by a separatist insurgency by the Muslim minority.
“We both recognized the value of promoting the rule of law, including freedom of navigation and overflight, especially in the South China Sea,” Lazarus said after the signing.
Mr. Motegi stated that he and Mr. Lazarus “agreed that we will continue to oppose any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo through force or coercion in the East China Sea and the South China Sea,” clearly criticizing the Chinese government’s assertiveness without mentioning China by name.
The military logistics agreement, which must be ratified by Japanese lawmakers before it takes effect, is the latest major defense pact between Japan and the Philippines to deepen their security alliance.
In addition to facilitating joint combat training, it will also help Japan and the Philippines jointly respond to common concerns of natural disasters and participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations, according to Japanese and Philippine officials.
In mid-2024, the two countries signed a mutual access agreement, allowing the deployment of either country’s military to the territory of the other country for joint and large-scale combat training, including live-fire training. The RAA came into effect in September.
Japanese and Philippine officials continue to negotiate another agreement aimed at increasing the security of sensitive defense and military information that the two countries can share.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and then-Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba jointly announced the start of negotiations for a cross-servicing agreement in Manila last April.
Ishiba also criticized the Chinese government’s aggressive actions without naming China. Mr. Ishiba said, “I hope that the two countries will continue to work closely together to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law.”
Under the Marcos administration, which took office in 2022, Chinese and Philippine coast guard vessels have increasingly engaged in hostile skirmishes in the South China Sea. His predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, cultivated good relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
China claims virtually the entire waterway and has increased its coast guard and naval presence and built artificial island bases to strengthen its claim. Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan are also involved in long-running territorial disputes.
In the East China Sea, China regularly sends coast guard vessels and aircraft into the waters and airspace surrounding islands claimed by the Japanese and Chinese governments to harass Japanese shipping. As a result, Japan occasionally responded by scrambling jet planes.
The United States has repeatedly warned China about escalating aggression in disputed waters against Japan and the Philippines, two of America’s staunchest treaty allies in Asia.
