IRIA News

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Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. held a Defense Ministerial Meeting in Makati, on February 24, 2025. Both sides announced the launch of a “strategic dialogue” and a “high-level framework” for defense equipment and technology cooperation.

The announcement came after Nakatani’s two-day visit to the Philippines, which included a tour of Philippine air bases and high-level discussions between the two countries’ defense officials. Both Nakatani and Teodoro highlighted the need for increased military collaboration, acknowledging that the security situation in the region has become more dire.

“We firmly concurred that the security environment surrounding us is becoming increasingly severe and that it is necessary for our two countries, as strategic partners, to further enhance defense cooperation and collaboration to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific under such a situation,” Nakatani said in a joint press briefing.

Teodoro added that the Philippines and Japan share common interests in the region. Before the meeting on Monday, Teodoro said the two countries shared the common cause of opposing “unilateral attempts by China and other countries to change the international order and the narrative.”

Shared Opposition to China

The Philippines and Japan share the opposition to China’s expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea, a waterway that is crucial for global trade and is claimed by Beijing as its own, despite competing claims from other nations, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei. The Philippines, alongside Japan, has been one of the most vocal critics of China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the region.

Japan’s increased military cooperation with the Philippines is seen as a strategic move considering these rising tensions. Nakatani’s visit, which followed a foreign ministers’ meeting between the two countries earlier this year, marks a significant step in deepening security ties.

The two nations have agreed to establish a strategic dialogue among high-level operational officers, and they hope to achieve greater operational collaboration shortly. Japan has also committed to supporting the Philippines in modernizing its maritime security capabilities, including upgrading its South China Sea patrol craft and enhancing its maritime surveillance systems.

Japan is already a key partner in the Philippines’ efforts to strengthen its defense infrastructure, particularly in the South China Sea. As part of its ongoing support, Japan has been providing the Philippines with funding for advanced maritime patrol vessels and radar installations. These joint efforts aim to ensure that both countries are equipped to monitor and respond to Chinese activities in the contested waters.

While Japan and the Philippines are united in their opposition to China’s actions in the South China Sea, both countries also face territorial disputes with Beijing. Japan, for example, has an ongoing dispute with China over a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. Known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan and the Diaoyu Islands in China, these islands are claimed by Beijing but are administered by Tokyo. This territorial issue further underscores the shared strategic interests between Japan and the Philippines in safeguarding regional security and preventing China from asserting dominance in critical maritime areas.

Recent tensions in the South China Sea

Tensions in the South China Sea have been exacerbated by recent confrontations between the Philippines and China. In a particularly alarming incident, the Philippine Presidential Office for Maritime Concerns accused the Chinese navy of endangering lives when it flew a helicopter within three meters (10 feet) of a Philippine surveillance plane carrying journalists over the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

In response, China’s military accused Manila of “hyping and smearing” the actions, asserting that the Philippine aircraft had “illegally intruded” into Chinese airspace.

Broader implications

The strengthening of military ties between Japan and the Philippines also aligns with broader regional security initiatives, particularly those involving the United States. Both Japan and the Philippines are long-standing allies of the U.S., which has been actively working to reinforce an arc of alliances in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China’s rising influence.

This collaboration was further solidified late last year when the Philippine Senate ratified a key agreement with Japan that would allow for the deployment of troops on each other’s soil. The pact, which is currently awaiting ratification in Japan, also includes provisions for increased joint military exercises and combat drills.

The United States, Japan, and the Philippines have all expressed concerns about China’s military buildup and its growing presence in the South China Sea, which has sparked a series of confrontations in recent months.

In December 2024, the Chinese coast guard used water cannons to block a Philippine government vessel, and there have been reports of Chinese naval helicopters coming dangerously close to Philippine surveillance planes. These incidents, along with China’s continued militarization of disputed islands, have heightened fears of a potential military confrontation in the region.

The agreement between Japan and the Philippines to strengthen their defense cooperation is a clear signal that both nations are committed to countering China’s expansionist policies and ensuring the stability of the Indo-Pacific.

As both countries work to deepen their military ties and enhance operational collaboration, it remains to be seen how Beijing will respond to these growing alliances in the region. However, for now, Japan and the Philippines have made it clear that their shared commitment to peace and stability in the face of an increasingly severe security environment will guide their future cooperation.