Philippines (Washington Insider Magazine) – The Philippines and Japan have cemented their military collaboration with a new Reciprocal Access Agreement. This pact establishes rules for joint activities and legal status for visiting troops, facilitating joint exercises, disaster relief operations, and improving interoperability between their forces.
Responding to China’s Assertiveness
In reaction to China’s assertive efforts in the East and South China Seas, Manila and Tokyo have aligned their strategies, as seen by the pact. Numerous confrontations between Chinese and Philippine forces occurred last year, which raised concerns about a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan and increased the likelihood of conflict.
Boosted US Support and Independent Strategies
According to IBS, the strengthened Philippine-Japanese partnership aligns with the US-led strategy of ‘integrated deterrence’ against China. US President Joe Biden, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stressed long-term cooperation during a trilateral summit. The US Congress is advocating for a new defense agreement to increase support for Manila and invest in critical infrastructure.
Both nations seek to enhance their defense capabilities and diversify security partnerships beyond the US. The Philippines focuses on modernizing maritime security, while Japan aims to double its defense spending and support regional allies, preparing for potential conflicts, especially concerning Taiwan.
