MANILA — Shinjiro Koizumi, Japan’s defense minister, arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday for high-level talks and to observe ongoing multinational military exercises, signaling a further strengthening of security cooperation between Tokyo and Manila.
Koizumi is scheduled to meet with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. to discuss expanding bilateral defense ties. Among the matters expected to be raised is a potential transfer of decommissioned Japanese naval vessels to the Philippines, according to officials.
The visit coincides with the annual Balikatan drills, which involve forces from the United States, the Philippines, and other allied nations. The exercises are designed to enhance interoperability and readiness amid rising regional tensions, particularly in the South China Sea.
Koizumi is expected to join representatives from 16 countries in observing a live-fire exercise in Paoay, where combined forces will simulate an attack on a decommissioned Philippine Navy vessel positioned about 40 kilometers offshore. Japanese forces are set to deploy Type 88 surface-to-ship missiles as part of the drill, contributing to the coordinated operation alongside U.S., Philippine, and Canadian units.
The Philippines and Japan formalized closer defense cooperation through the Reciprocal Access Agreement, which allows the deployment of Japanese troops for joint exercises. Under this framework, approximately 1,400 Japanese personnel have begun participating regularly in Balikatan.
Ahead of his Manila visit, Koizumi traveled to Jakarta, where he signed a defense cooperation agreement with Indonesian officials, reflecting Japan’s broader strategy to build a network of regional security partnerships.
Japan has recently undertaken significant shifts in its defense posture. It has expanded its capabilities to include long-range strike options and lifted restrictions on the export of lethal military equipment. These policy changes could enable the transfer of up to six Abukuma-class destroyers to the Philippines, vessels designed for patrol and multi-domain threat detection. No final agreement has been announced.
The policy shift has been welcomed by allies such as Australia and the United States, but has drawn criticism from China, which warned against what it described as a move toward renewed militarization.
The Philippines, which has faced increasing maritime tensions with Beijing, is expected to continue strengthening defense ties with regional partners as part of its broader security strategy.
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