(Bloomberg) — The Philippines and Japan have agreed to initiate discussions on mutual military visits and bolstered security ties with the US in light of increased tensions with China over disputed waters.
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During a joint briefing with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated, “A decision was made to start negotiations on a reciprocal access agreement and agreed to further strengthen trilateral cooperation among Japan, the United States, and the Philippines.”
Japan, a crucial defense partner for the Philippines, has also committed to providing patrol vessels and defense equipment to enhance Manila’s maritime law enforcement capabilities. Kishida, who is on a two-day official visit to the Southeast Asian nation, stated that “We share the serious concerns about the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea and that attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force are unacceptable.” Marcos expressed his belief that the proposed visiting forces agreement with Japan would be beneficial to both nations’ defense and military personnel, as well as to maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Under a newly launched official security assistance grant worth 600 million yen ($4 million), Japan has also agreed to provide the Philippines with a coastal surveillance radar to help the Philippine Navy monitor the South China Sea and Luzon Strait. Tokyo’s foreign ministry stated in a statement that this will effectively ensure the security of sea lanes, which are crucial to Japan as well.
Tensions in the South China Sea have escalated following two separate collisions between Philippine and Chinese vessels. These incidents occurred as the Philippine ships were delivering supplies to a military outpost in Second Thomas Shoal. Furthermore, Japan and China frequently attempt to expel each other from waters around islands in the East China Sea near Taiwan, both of which claim ownership.
Prior to Kishida’s visit, Mitsubishi Electric Corp. and Japan’s Ministry of Defense announced the delivery of the first of four radar units to the Philippines under a 2020 contract. This marks the first transfer of domestically produced defense equipment since export restrictions were relaxed in 2014. Japan has also supplied ships to the Philippines’ coast guard.
During a special joint session of the Philippine Congress on Saturday, Kishida touched upon the pardon of Japanese war criminals by the president of the Southeast Asian nation in 1953, which paved the way for building friendly relations between the two countries after World War II. He emphasized the strengthening of these relations at all levels over time. In his speech, Kishida declared that trilateral cooperation with the US and the Philippines is already in progress to protect freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, stating that it should be “governed by laws and rules, not by force.”
Kishida reiterated Japan’s commitment to defend a free and open Indo-Pacific region, stating that Japan is determined to “lead the international community towards cooperation rather than division and confrontation, and to defend freedom and the rule of law at all costs.” After his visit to the Philippines, Kishida will travel to Malaysia to further enhance defense ties.
–With assistance from Ditas Lopez and Ian Sayson.
(Adds Kishida’s comments before Philippine Congress in 10th to 12th paragraphs)
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