Japan and the Philippines signed a major defense pact on Monday, July 8, 2024, allowing the deployment of Japanese forces for joint military exercises in the Philippines. This Southeast Asian nation, once occupied by Japan during World War II, is now strengthening its alliance with Tokyo in response to an increasingly assertive China. Japan can now deploy its forces to the Philippines under the Reciprocal Access Agreement.
The Reciprocal Access Agreement, which also permits Filipino forces to enter Japan for joint combat training, was signed by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa during a ceremony in Manila attended by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The pact will take effect after ratification by the legislatures of both countries, according to Philippine and Japanese officials.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Japan has strengthened its security and defense capabilities, including developing a counterstrike capability, marking a departure from the country’s postwar policy of focusing solely on self-defense. Japan is doubling its defense budget over five years ending in 2027, aiming to become the world’s third-largest military spender after the United States and China.
Kishida’s initiatives align with President Marcos’ efforts to create security alliances that bolster the limited capacity of the Philippine military to defend its territorial claims in the South China Sea.