Facing China’s aggression, Japan and the Philippines signed a new defense agreement

Manila, Philippines—Japan and the Philippines signed a defence agreement on Thursday that will allow the tax-free provision of ammunition, fuel, food, and other necessities during joint training to boost deterrence against China’s growing aggression in the region and strengthen their preparedness for natural disasters.

Japan has faced increasing political, trade and security tension with China, which was angry with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments that possible Chinese action against Taiwan could lead to Japanese intervention.

Japan and the Philippines have also had separate regional conflicts with Beijing in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, which are continuously flaring up and threatening to involve the United States, a treaty ally of the two Asian countries.

Signed by Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro in Manila. During the ceremony, Japan also announced new security and economic development assistance to the Philippines, including funding to build safety boat shelters and expand internet access in poor southern Philippine provinces hit by a separatist insurgency by minority Muslims.

“We both recognised the value of promoting the rule of law, including freedom of navigation and overflight, particularly in the South China Sea,” Lazaro said after the signing.

Motegi said he and Lazaro “agreed to continue to oppose unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China Sea by force or coercion,” in an apparent criticism of Beijing’s growing assertiveness without naming China.

The military equipment agreement, which has to be approved by Japanese legislators before taking effect, is the latest major defence pact between Japan and the Philippines to deepen their security alliance.

According to Japanese and Philippine officials,

In addition to facilitating joint war exercises, it will also help Japan and the Philippines jointly respond to natural disasters, a mutual concern, and participate in UN peacekeeping missions.

Both countries signed in mid-2024 a mutual access agreement, which allows armies of either country to be deployed in the territory of the other for joint and large-scale war exercises, including live-fire drills. The RAA came into effect in September.

Japanese and Philippine officials are still negotiating another agreement aimed at boosting the security of highly classified defence and military information the countries may share.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and then-Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had jointly announced the launch of negotiations for the acquisition and cross-servicing agreement in Manila in April last year.

Ishiba also criticised Beijing’s aggressive actions without naming China. Ishiba then said, “I hope that our two countries will continue to work together to realise a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law.”

There have been increasingly hostile confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guard vessels in the South China Sea under Marcos, who took office in 2022. rodrigo duarte Maintained cordial relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Beijing claims virtually the entire waterway, where it has beefed up its coast guard and naval presence and built artificial island bases to bolster its claims. Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan have also been involved in the longstanding regional standoff.

In the East China Sea, China regularly dispatches coast guard ships and aircraft to the waters and airspace around the islands, which are claimed by both Tokyo and Beijing, to harass Japanese ships. This has prompted Japan to shoot down the jets several times in response.

America has warned repeatedly China over increasing acts of aggression in disputed waters against Japan and the Philippines, which are among Washington’s staunchest treaty allies in Asia.

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Associated Press video journalist Joel Calupitan in Manila contributed to this report.