Japan and the Philippines Share Military Information

President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, made a state visit to Japan on May 28th and had a summit meeting with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Both leaders agreed on enhancing security relationship between their governments, including protection of classified military information. Sharing common interest to counter advance of China to the Western Pacific, the Philippines is getting the closest like-minded country for Japan in Southeast Asia. 

The Philippines and Japan have been suffering from maritime advance of China in their territorial seas. China promotes landfill in the Spratly Islands of the Philippines to build military bases. It’s vessels frequently appear around Senkaku Islands of Japan to appeal its control. Both governments recently strengthen their security ties, including reciprocal access agreement (RAA) for simplifying immigration of military personnel last September and acquisition and cross-servicing agreement (ACSA) for support on foods or fuels last January.

 

Takaichi and Marcos agreed on commencing negotiation for General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), following recent developments in bilateral security cooperation. The Philippines became the first country in Southeast Asia to have GSOMIA with Japan. As the Philippines already has GSOMIA with the United States, Japan, the U.S. and the Philippines can closely share military information.

 

The leaders also agreed on accelerating cooperation for transferring Japan’s used Abukuma-class destroyers or TC-90 patrol aircraft. Both ministers of defense had agreed on that security cooperation earlier in May. The relationship of both governments was upgraded from “strategic partnership” to “comprehensive strategic partnership.” Japan recognizes the Philippines as one of its sub-allies.

 

Takaichi offered economic support for strengthening supply chain through Japan’s initiative called Partnership on Wide Energy and Resource Resilience Asia (POWERR Asia) for development of oil reserve in the Philippines and stockpile arrangement in ASEAN. The leaders affirmed importance of energy security by promoting cooperation in Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC).

 

On the background of closer ties between Japan and the Philippines, there is a concern of Japan that the United States led by President Donald Trump may weaken its involvement in security in Asia-Pacific region. China calls its bilateral relations with the U.S. strategic stability after the summit meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump in May. China obviously directs its policy not for the U.S. to approach Asian region. As building bilateral security relations with Southeast Asian countries, Japan expects to keep the U.S. engaged in the region.

 

However, Japan’s security cooperation with Asian countries causes China’s caution. China recently calls Japan’s action “new militarism.” Minister of Defense of Japan, Shinjiro Koizumi, cynically criticized China’s argument. “There is a country that has a huge arsenal of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers. Japan has neither of such weapons. And yet Japan is labeled ‘new militarism.’ Isn’t it strange?” Koziumi said in his speech to Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore on May 31st. As Takaichi administration promotes its security policies, relations between Japan and China deteriorates.

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