Japan, Philippines sign defense pact amid South China Sea tensions

In a significant move to strengthen their defense ties amid rising tensions with China, Japan and the Philippines have signed a key defense pact. The reciprocal access agreement, signed at a ceremony in Manila by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, allows for the deployment of Japanese forces for joint exercises in the Philippines and vice versa. The agreement will enter into force after ratification by the legislatures of the respective countries.

The signing was hailed as a breakthrough achievement by Kamikawa, who stressed that it would increase defense cooperation between the two nations. The pact comes amid growing concerns over China's assertive actions in the South China Sea, particularly in the second Thomas Shoal, a key global trade route claimed by China but also contested by several Southeast Asian nations.

Both Japanese and Filipino officials stressed the need for the international community to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law in these disputed waters. In response, Beijing's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian warned against forming military blocs and reminded Japan of its World War II history in Southeast Asia.

The defense pact, which includes live-fire drills, is Japan's first in Asia, following similar agreements with Australia in 2022 and Britain in 2023. Under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Japan has been improving its security and its defensive capabilities, with plans to double its defense capability. defense spending in 2027, becoming the third largest military spender in the world after the United States and China.

Despite historical tensions due to Japanese aggression during World War II, Japan and the Philippines have steadily deepened their defense and security ties. This aligns with efforts by both nations to strengthen their military capabilities in the face of territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The United States has also strengthened its military alliances in the Indo-Pacific to counter China, with Japan and the Philippines as US allies.

The signing of the defense pact comes amid a series of tense clashes in the South China Sea, with the most serious incident involving Chinese Coast Guard personnel armed with knives, spears and an ax who wrapped and repeatedly destroy two Philippine Navy supply ships. Japanese and Philippine officials have condemned China's actions, saying they obstruct freedom of navigation and disrupt supply lines, raising tensions.