The Philippines hailed an "unprecedented" high in defense ties with Japan after the signing on Monday of a landmark military pact allowing deployment of forces on each other's soil in the face of China's increasingly assertive stance in the region.
The Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), the first of its kind Japan has signed in Asia, will ease the entry of equipment and troops for combat training and disaster response, smoothing military co-operation between Manila and Tokyo.
"The RAA brings our defense partnership to an unprecedented height," Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo told a joint briefing after a "2-plus-2" meeting of both nations' foreign and defense ministers.
The deal coincides with a spurt in maritime run-ins between Manila and Beijing over the former's missions to resupply troops stationed on a beached vessel on the contested Second Thomas Shoal, which led to injury of a Philippine sailor last month.
"The ministers expressed serious concern over the dangerous and escalatory actions by China at Second Thomas Shoal," they said in a joint statement after the meeting.
China's actions obstructed freedom of navigation and disrupted supply lines, leading to an increase in tension, they added.
The pact will take effect after being ratified by the parliaments of both countries.
China claims much of the South China Sea, a conduit for the bulk of northeast Asia's trade with the rest of the world in which Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.
Japan, which announced last year its biggest military build-up since World War Two in a step away from post-war pacifism, does not have any claims to the busy waterway.
But it has a separate maritime dispute with China in the East China Sea, where the neighbors have repeatedly faced off.
Both the Philippines and Japan, two of the United States' closest Asian allies, have taken a strong line against what they see as an increasingly assertive China in the South China Sea, voicing concern over tension across the Taiwan Strait.
At the same press briefing, Japan's foreign minister, Yoko Kamikawa, reiterated the importance of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, warning that Tokyo opposed "unilateral attempts to change status quo by force and coercion".
In Beijing, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said the Asia-Pacific region did not need military blocs or provocations between different camps or small circles that encourage a new Cold War.
"During World War Two, Japan was responsible for invasion and colonial rule of Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines," Lin Jian said in reply to a reporter's question at a regular briefing.
"Japan should seriously reflect on its history of aggression and be cautious in words and deeds in the field of military security."
The Philippines has a Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States and Australia. Tokyo, which hosts the biggest concentration of U.S. forces abroad, has similar RAA deals with Australia and Britain, and is negotiating another with France.
© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024.
18 Comments
Peter14
We can do whatever we want, precisely because China does not rule. And they never will. Get comfortable with that fact.
LOL.
starpunk
They need to, for the same reason as it ever was - at least since WW2. China is a Communist monster and until that changes Japan needs all the allies it can get to project itself and counteract the CCP, make them think twice.
And China has been pulling some crap lately with their navy. A Pacific alliance is needed to make sure China doesn't do anything really stupid.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Look it's the favorite copy paste. Still China's Warmongering and China's Disgrace.
Laguna
CNN featured an article on China's "monster" coast guard ship this morning. There is no way either the US or the Philippines will be able to counter this - except through shunning and offshoring. As China finds itself increasingly excluded from the international world, including from its own neighbors, and as it finds attracting western manufacturers to its shores increasingly difficult, it may moderate. Remember, due to the multitude of challenges China faces with its aging society and post-property bubble economy, the last thing it needs is further isolation.
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/08/asia/china-monster-coast-guard-ship-philippines-intl-hnk-ml/index.html
Fighto!
Communist China rules nothing. What they manufacture is shoddy rubbish, they bully neighbours because they are greedy and only focused on material gains, the people hate the idea of freedom, they cannot make friends, and they are not respected or liked anywhere in the free, democratic world.
The Japan-Philippines alliance is a great thing - and there will be many more in the region.
Toshihiro
I'm Filipino and I absolutely welcome this. Japan may not be the partner that will bark and bite a lot like a certain common ally across the Pacific, but something to beef up defense cooperation is indeed good for both sides. Japan has been a major trade partner and a source of foreign investment for the Philippines and I guess it wouldn't hurt if the JSDF can get more boots on Philippine soil. Both countries as disaster-prone and Japan excels in HA/DR operations, we're gonna need that in this climate. Foes yesterday, allies today and hopefully until tomorrow.
TaiwanIsNotChina
A previous article seemed to indicate the Philippines refuses to ask the US for direct assistance with the shoal.
Only China is acting on its disgraceful impulses.
Peter14
Taiwans claims are independant of China's claims, and they only support Taiwanese claims, not Chinese claims. That they both claim certain islands is irrelevant and unremarkable, and they are in clear oposition to each other. They are clearl competing claims. Apart from that obvious point, China uses belligerence and hostility where as Taiwan is much more mature and civilized in its behaviour regarding its claims.
GuruMick
High or not, wont beat a giant like China.
Need new thinking.
A "BDS " like campaign against Chinese manufacturing would do more methinks.
Futaro Gamagori
@ian
That's how the Philippines make the USA think
But in reality, most politians are under China's payroll
The Philippines are benefiting a lot from the Chinese Government
Futaro Gamagori
China owns the Philippines
Filipinos don't even trust their own government
I don't understand how Japan can take this seriously
Not hatin, just sayin what is obvious
BertieWooster
“Tokyo, which hosts the biggest concentration of U.S. forces abroad”
No. Tokyo doesn't. Okinawa does. And we are not happy about it!
JJE
Completely omits the fact that Taiwan has the same maritime claims as mainland China and thus effectively supports it. An odd oversight.
Mark
trust me, Philippines can sign military pact even with the Martians, or with the Jedi Master from the Republic, and then tomorrow their ships be water-gunned by the chicom, they will keep silent again and do nothing. Absolutely NOTHING at all. i wonder why they spend so much money on their military budget each year, their budget can't even protect their own Coastal Guards!
ian
If someone owns the Philippines, at the moment it's actually the US
ian
So wondering what Japan can do to help when the US don't or can't
ian
Wondering also why the other claimants are being mentioned now.
Whereas before the Philippines tried to drag China into arbitration as if only the two of them are the claimants
TokyoLiving
Do whatever you want..
China rules..
LOL