- Japan and the Philippines said Friday they will start negotiations for a defence pact that would allow the countries to deploy troops on each other's territory. Tokyo and Manila -- longtime allies of the United States -- are deepening their defence cooperation as they seek to counter China's growing military pressure. The accord would create the legal basis for the countries to send defence personnel to each other's territory for training and other operations. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the start of reciprocal access negotiations following talks in Manila. "We are cognisant of the benefits of having this arrangement both to our defence and military personnel and to maintaining peace and stability in our region," Marcos said, as he stood beside Kishida in the presidential palace. Kishida said the countries also agreed to further boost cooperation between Japan, the United States and the Philippines. Japan would help "improve the Philippines maritime law enforcement capability including the provision of patrol vessels and defence equipment and technology cooperation," Kishida said. Japan will provide the Philippines with a coastal radar surveillance system as part of a 600 million yen ($4 million) security assistance package, the leaders said. Kishida is the first Japanese prime minister to visit the Philippines since 2017. He is scheduled to address a special joint session of Congress on Saturday -- the first Japanese leader to do so -- and visit the Philippine Coast Guard headquarters. Japan invaded and occupied the Philippines during World War II, but the two countries have since grown closer due to trade and investment, and more recently, to counter China's assertiveness in the region. - 'Clear signal to China' - Tokyo has signed similar reciprocal access agreements with Britain and Australia in the past two years. The Philippines has equivalent pacts with the United States and Australia. The start of negotiations follows an escalation in regional tensions this year as China increasingly deploys ships to patrol disputed waters also claimed by the Philippines or Japan. In response, the United States has sought to strengthen its alliances in the region, and sees Japan and the Philippines as key partners in deterring China. Filipino political analyst Richard Heydarian said the deeper cooperation between Japan and the Philippines could lead to a "trilateral security alliance" with the United States, which would be "central to holding the line over Taiwan and the South China Sea". That would "send a clear signal to China that it will face determined resistance from multiple allies in the region should it press ahead with more aggressive and coercive action especially vis a vis Taiwan," Heydarian said. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory to be seized one day, and has in recent years stepped up military and political pressure on the democratic island. But Japan also wants to boost its own regional ties. Japanese media have reported that the Philippines was the first of four countries to receive defence equipment under Tokyo's new Official Security Assistance programme. The others will be Malaysia, Bangladesh and Fiji, reports said. After the Philippines, Kishida will travel to Malaysia for talks with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday.
Tokyo and Manila -- longtime allies of the United States -- are deepening their defence cooperation as they seek to counter China's growing military pressure.
The accord would create the legal basis for the countries to send defence personnel to each other's territory for training and other operations.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the start of reciprocal access negotiations following talks in Manila.
"We are cognisant of the benefits of having this arrangement both to our defence and military personnel and to maintaining peace and stability in our region," Marcos said, as he stood beside Kishida in the presidential palace.
Kishida said the countries also agreed to further boost cooperation between Japan, the United States and the Philippines.
Japan would help "improve the Philippines maritime law enforcement capability including the provision of patrol vessels and defence equipment and technology cooperation," Kishida said.
Japan will provide the Philippines with a coastal radar surveillance system as part of a 600 million yen ($4 million) security assistance package, the leaders said.
Kishida is the first Japanese prime minister to visit the Philippines since 2017.
He is scheduled to address a special joint session of Congress on Saturday -- the first Japanese leader to do so -- and visit the Philippine Coast Guard headquarters.
Japan invaded and occupied the Philippines during World War II, but the two countries have since grown closer due to trade and investment, and more recently, to counter China's assertiveness in the region.
- 'Clear signal to China' -
Tokyo has signed similar reciprocal access agreements with Britain and Australia in the past two years.
The Philippines has equivalent pacts with the United States and Australia.
The start of negotiations follows an escalation in regional tensions this year as China increasingly deploys ships to patrol disputed waters also claimed by the Philippines or Japan.
In response, the United States has sought to strengthen its alliances in the region, and sees Japan and the Philippines as key partners in deterring China.
Filipino political analyst Richard Heydarian said the deeper cooperation between Japan and the Philippines could lead to a "trilateral security alliance" with the United States, which would be "central to holding the line over Taiwan and the South China Sea".
That would "send a clear signal to China that it will face determined resistance from multiple allies in the region should it press ahead with more aggressive and coercive action especially vis a vis Taiwan," Heydarian said.
China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory to be seized one day, and has in recent years stepped up military and political pressure on the democratic island.
But Japan also wants to boost its own regional ties.
Japanese media have reported that the Philippines was the first of four countries to receive defence equipment under Tokyo's new Official Security Assistance programme.
The others will be Malaysia, Bangladesh and Fiji, reports said.
After the Philippines, Kishida will travel to Malaysia for talks with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday.
主要な主題:日本とフィリピンが守備条約交渉を開始する主要な出来事:東京とマニラは長年の米国の同盟国であり、中国の拡大する軍事圧力に対処するために守備協力を深めています。
宣誓条約は、国々が互いの領域に防衛関係者を派遣する法的基盤を作成することを可能にします。
フィリピン大統領マルコスと日本首相岸田文夫は、マニラでの会談の後、互恵的なアクセス交渉の開始を発表しました。
直接的な長期的な経済影響:日本は防衛装備と技術協力を含む、6億円(400万ドル)の安全保障支援パッケージとして、フィリピンに沿岸レーダー監視システムを提供することを含む取引で経済利益を得ることができます。
潜在的な長期的な環境影響:日本とフィリピンが守備条約交渉を開始したことは、地域の安全保障を強化し、危機的な状況を回避するための環境への貢献を表しています。
潜在的な長期的な安全性への影響:条約は日本とフィリピンがお互いの領域に軍事派遣を行うことを可能にするため、この地域の軍事安全保障を強化し、中国の軍事的圧力に反抗することを可能にします。
文化的および政治的な文脈を考慮しながら、地政学的および社会的な影響を評価する:条約の開発は、日本とフィリピンの国家間関係を強化し、地域の文化的な差異を超えて協力し合うことを促進するための歴史的な一歩となります。
また、日本とフィリピンが米国と協力して地域の安全保障を強化することを可能にすることができます。
結論:日本とフィリピンの両国が守備条約交渉を開始したことは、地域の安全保障を強化し、国際間の協力関係を深め、中国の軍事的圧力に反抗することを可能にします。