Japan, Philippines sign defense pact allowing deployment of forces for military exercises

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Japan and the Philippines signed a major security agreement On Monday, the deployment of eastern forces allowed for joint exercises in the Southeast Asian population, which suffered brutal eastern occupation in World War II but is now building an alliance with Tokyo as both face increasingly assertive China is facing.

Get the right to enter into a mutual promisewhich similarly allows Filipino forces to visit Japan for joint combat training, was signed by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Eastern Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa in a Manila ceremony witnessed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Philippine and Eastern officials said that could impact ratification by the countries’ legislatures.

Kamikawa called the signing of the defense contract “an unprecedented achievement”, which aims to further promote defense cooperation between international locations.

Eastern and Philippine officials “expressed grave concern over the dangerous and escalating actions by China” at the 2nd Thomas Shoal, the scene of fresh fighting between Chinese and Philippine forces in the South China Sea.

They underlined “the willingness of the international community to speak out on the importance of maintaining and strengthening the free and open international order based on the rule of law within disputed waters” in a joint observation.

Chinese officials declined immediate comment.

The defense agreement with the Philippines, which includes live-fire exercises, is the first to be implemented by Japan in Asia. Japan signed related agreement Australia in 2022 And With Britain in 2023,

Under the leadership of Top Minister Fumio Kishida, Japan has taken steps Increase its security and defensive firepower, with a counter-attack capability that is different from the pastoral post-war idea of ​​focusing only on self-defense. It is doubling defense spending by 2027 over a five-year period to strengthen its military power and make Japan the third-largest military spender in the region after the US and China.

Many of Japan’s Asian neighbors, including the Philippines, came under Eastern aggression until its defeat in World War II, and may have been Tokyo’s efforts to strengthen its military operations and spending. a critical factor, On the other hand, Japan and the Philippines have continuously deepened security and defense ties.

Kishida’s moves coincide with Marcos’ goal of building a security alliance to strengthen the limited capacity of the Philippine military to secure its territorial interests in the South China Sea. The busy sea route is a major world trade direction almost entirely claimed by China but also contested elections partly through the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

The US is also maintaining military alliances in the Indo-Pacific to better counter China, including a weeks-long war of words over Taiwan, and reassure its Asian allies. Japan and the Philippines are treaty allies of the US and their leaders held three-way talks on the White Area in April, where President Biden renewed Washington’s “ironclad” loyalty To secure Japan and the Philippines.

Japan has a long history territorial dispute with china On islands within the East China Sea. Meanwhile, barricades and military ships off the Chinese and Philippine coasts have been planning for an intensified confrontation in the South China Sea since last year.

inside The worst war of words By now, Chinese shore barricade teams armed with knives, spears and axes repeatedly attacked motorboats and on June 17 rammed and destroyed two Philippine military supply ships in a chaotic confrontation at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, in which Many Filipinos were injured. Sailor. The barricading team on the Chinese coast seized seven military rifles.

Eastern and Philippine officials said China’s activities along the coast “impeded freedom of navigation and disrupted supply lines, increasing tensions.”

Kihara told a news conference that Japan “firmly opposes the dangerous and coercive use of maritime security agencies and maritime militia vessels.”

The Philippines strongly protested against the barricade activities on the Chinese coast and demanded $1 million for the dismantling and return of the rifles. China accused the Philippines of inciting the violence and said the Filipino sailors strayed into Chinese territorial waters despite blackmail.

Japan and the US are among the first countries to express concern over China’s actions and put pressure on Beijing to follow global rules. If Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under armed attack, including in the South China Sea, Washington is obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia.

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Nuga reported from Bangkok. Associated Press reporters Joel Calupitan and Aaron Favila in Manila, Philippines, contributed to this record.