MANILA. Japan and the Philippines have agreed to further deepen their defense cooperation and discuss mechanisms to protect shared military information, amid growing concerns over China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the region.
Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro reached the agreement during a meeting in Manila on Monday, with their discussions primarily focused on tensions in the disputed South China Sea and East China Sea.
Both Japan and the Philippines are treaty allies of the United States and have been among the most outspoken critics of China’s assertiveness in regional waters.
At the start of his meeting with Nakatani, Teodoro emphasized the importance of bolstering defense ties with Japan “against unilateral attempts by China and other countries to change the international order and the narrative.”
Following the meeting, Nakatani confirmed their mutual commitment to “strengthen operational cooperation,” including joint and multinational defense pieces of training, port calls, and information-sharing. He also revealed plans to initiate discussions on a military information protection mechanism.
“We also agreed to commence discussion between defense authorities on military information protection mechanism,” Nakatani stated.
The Philippines has already taken steps to enhance military intelligence sharing with the United States. Last year, the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) was signed between then-U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Teodoro in Manila. The legally binding accord aims to secure the exchange of classified military intelligence and advanced technology, facilitating the potential sale of U.S. weaponry to the Philippines.
The GSOMIA was part of broader efforts by the U.S. and the Philippines to enhance military collaboration, including large-scale joint combat
A key topic of the discussions between Nakatani and Teodoro was the “expansion of bilateral cooperation, especially in the context of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA),” according to a meeting agenda seen by The Associated Press.
The RAA, signed by Japan and the Philippines last year, allows the deployment of Japanese and Philippine forces in each other’s territory for joint military and combat drills. The Philippine Senate has already ratified the agreement, and once Japan’s legislature follows suit, the pact will officially take effect.
This agreement, which includes live-fire exercises, marks Japan’s first military access agreement in Asia. Tokyo had previously signed similar accords with Australia in 2022 and Britain in 2023.
Japan has been actively strengthening its security and defense posture in response to rising threats. This includes developing a counterstrike capability, a significant shift from its postwar self-defense policy. Tokyo is also doubling its defense spending over a five-year period until 2027 to bolster its military power.
However, Japan’s increasing military role remains a sensitive issue for some of its Asian neighbors, including the Philippines, which experienced Japanese aggression during World War II. Despite historical tensions, Manila and Tokyo have continued to forge closer security ties, primarily due to their shared concerns over China’s assertive behavior in regional waters.
Japan has a longstanding territorial dispute with China over the Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Islands) in the East China Sea. Meanwhile, the Philippines has faced a series of hostile encounters between its coast guard and navy and Chinese forces in the South China Sea over the past two years.
The latest defense agreements between Japan and the Philippines signal a strengthening regional security alliance aimed at countering Chinese influence and maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Carlo Juancho FuntanillaFrontend Developer, WordPress, Shopify
Contributing Editor
AMA ACLC San Pablo
- Carlo Juancho Funtanillahttps://tutubi.ph/author/carlojpf/
- Carlo Juancho Funtanillahttps://tutubi.ph/author/carlojpf/
- Carlo Juancho Funtanillahttps://tutubi.ph/author/carlojpf/
- Carlo Juancho Funtanillahttps://tutubi.ph/author/carlojpf/
