Japan and the Philippines are strengthening their security ties amidst rising tensions in the South China Sea. Japanese Defense Secretary Gen Nakatani emphasized the need for deeper security cooperation, citing an “increasingly severe” security environment.
During a two-day visit to the Philippines, Nakatani met with his counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro Jr., and they concurred on the necessity of enhancing defense cooperation. Nakatani stated, “Secretary (Gilberto) Teodoro Jr and I firmly concurred that the security environment surrounding us is becoming increasingly severe and it is … necessary to further enhance defence cooperation.”
The two countries aim to achieve greater operational collaboration, including the establishment of “strategic dialogue between high-level operational officers.” This development comes after a January meeting between foreign ministers, where they vowed to strengthen security cooperation to counter China’s actions in key sea trade routes.
China’s actions in the disputed South China Sea have led to confrontations with the Philippines, including the use of water cannons and aggressive maneuvers by Chinese vessels. Japan, a key financier of the Philippines’ maritime modernization efforts, also has its own dispute with China over uninhabited islands in the East China Sea.
The strengthened security ties between Japan and the Philippines are part of a broader effort to deter China’s claims in the Pacific, with both countries being longtime allies of the United States. A recent pact ratified by the Philippine Senate allows for the deployment of troops on each other’s soil and increased joint combat drills, pending ratification in Tokyo.