Tokyo and Manila are Enhancing Defensive Ties to Counter Beijing

Stronger bilateral relations are not only welcomed between Japan and the Philippines, but also crucial for regional coordination, particularly as America, the top treaty ally of both countries, has prioritised the Western Hemisphere and become overstretched through various conflicts. At the same time, China continues to grow its foreign projection capabilities.

Japan and the Philippines are extending their relations to new heights in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly to deter China’s aggressive posture. In the East China Sea, Chinese maritime provocations became a catalyst for Japanese remilitarization. In the South China Sea, the Philippines has reassessed a former lukewarm approach toward China’s encroachment.

Amid China’s growing force projection, both Japan and the Philippines realized the need to increase defense spending and partnerships. Initially providing humanitarian operations to each other, Tokyo and Manila are now intertwining each other’s security in the region with joint interoperability exercises and military sales.

The Reciprocal Access Agreement and Weapons Exports

The Philippines and Japan solidified the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) on July 8th, 2024, which allows for further ties in defense and security. The agreement allows for enhanced interoperability between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). It is the third such RAA Japan has signed alongside Australia and the United Kingdom.

A further defense pact was signed between Tokyo and Manila on January 15th, 2026, which is a tax-free provision of logistics during joint exercises. Joint exercises will also become more frequent under the agreement and economic developments for the Philippine Navy and civilians, such as extended internet provisions.

Relations between the two countries further expanded to weapons exports, as Japan recently lifted their ban on lethal weaponry exports. On May 5th, 2026, Naval News reported that Japan and the Philippines agreed to hold talks on a weapons transfer memorandum for upgraded destroyers for the Philippine Navy.

JSDF and AFP Improved Interoperability

Aforementioned, both major existential threats that the Philippines and Japan face are from China’s maritime activities as the Chinese navy (PLAN) and Coast Guard (CCG) continue to project power and enact provocative movements such as ship ramming and frequency distortions in Tokyo’s and Manila’s respective waters. The AFP and JSDF are enhancing interoperability in the South China Sea for coordination and preparation to counter China’s military.

Japan, for the first time, has joined the joint exercise Balikatan alongside the Philippines, Australia, France, Canada, New Zealand, and the U.S. Tokyo’s landmark participation is the first time since World War Two that Japanese troops have been deployed on Philippine territory.

The JSDF’s participation in Balikatan differs from past exercises, as before the defensive agreement with the Philippines, Japan would only send a small number of advisers for humanitarian operations. In contrast, today the JSDF is gaining full experience and interoperability alongside the AFP in the South China Sea.

During the exercise, Japan has utilized its Type 88 surface-to-ship missile system, in which the JSDF and AFP will conduct mock anti-ship operations, which will be critical for preparing for any wartime scenario in the East and South China Sea.

China’s Response

Amid Exercise Balikatan 2026, Beijing ordered its Southern Command (PLA STC) to conduct combat readiness drills as a counter to the joint exercises. In a show of force, the PLAN deployed the Liaoning aircraft carrier and H-6 bombers fitted with the YJ-12 supersonic cruise missile as an intimidation method during Balikatan.

While China can do little to block growing relations between the Philippines and Japan, Beijing could attempt to maintain a deterrent threshold with its growing military capabilities and diplomatic soft power. For instance, China’s ongoing diplomatic conflict with Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi over a Taiwan contingency has led to restrictions towards Japanese companies over rare earth minerals that Beijing controls.

Regarding the Philippines, China has already pushed the Philippine government towards Japan, the United States, and Australia. Instead, Beijing will continue enforcing naval provocations in the South China Sea, such as denying Filipino fishermen their fishing rights, which hinders economic growth. Furthermore, China will continue to ignore the 2016 Arbitral Ruling as the PLAN and CCG continue to militarize reefs around Manila’s economic exclusion zone (EEZ).

Alliance Sharing Between Treaty Allies Helps America’s Contingency Options

The growing defense ties between Tokyo and Manila also have wider implications beyond countering China’s force projection around the First Island Chain in the Indo-Pacific region. With the U.S. government changing its National Security Strategy (NSS), forging localized bilateral ties and heightening defense spending will be beneficial to both America and its allies, such as Japan and the Philippines.

The United States is prioritizing a Monroe Doctrine-Esque NSS under the second Trump administration and is currently involved in a regional war in the Middle East; the Indo-Pacific could suffer from gaps in security. With Tokyo and Manila enhancing bilateral cooperation through weapon exports, bilateral exercises, and technology sharing, the U.S. can be reassured that its treaty allies are not solely relying on Washington for national security.

Through extension, American policy makers should push for closer coordination between the JSDF and AFP through early warning systems to track PLAN and CGG movements in the East and South China Sea. Lastly, while not formally having a mutual defensive pact, both Japan and the Philippines can maintain policies of strategic ambiguity of potentially intervening, either directly or indirectly, if either party comes under direct attack.

Stronger bilateral relations are not only welcomed between Japan and the Philippines, but also crucial for regional coordination, particularly as America, the top treaty ally of both countries, has prioritized the Western Hemisphere and become overstretched through various conflicts. At the same time, China continues to grow its foreign projection capabilities.