MANILA, Philippines (AP) – On Thursday, Japan and the Philippines signed a significant defense pact that aims to enhance their military cooperation. This agreement, known as the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), will permit the tax-free provision of essential supplies, including ammunition, fuel, food, and other necessities, during joint military training exercises. This initiative is a strategic response to China's growing assertiveness in the region and is also intended to improve their preparedness for natural disasters.
Japan has been experiencing heightened political, trade, and security tensions with China, particularly following remarks from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Her comments suggested that potential Chinese military actions against Taiwan could trigger Japanese intervention. These developments underscore the fraught geopolitical landscape as both Japan and the Philippines face separate territorial disputes with China. These disputes are notably present in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, where the United States, a treaty ally of both nations, may become involved.
During the signing ceremony in Manila, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi formalized the ACSA alongside Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro. In conjunction with the pact, Japan announced new assistance initiatives focused on security and economic development for the Philippines. The military logistical agreement is subject to ratification by Japanese legislators before it can take effect. This agreement is seen as a cornerstone in deepening the security alliance between the two nations.
Beyond enhancing capabilities for joint military exercises, the ACSA is also set to facilitate cooperative responses to natural disasters—a shared concern for both countries—and enable participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Earlier in mid-2024, Japan and the Philippines signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), which allows for the deployment of each country's forces within the other's territory for larger combat exercises, including live-fire drills. The RAA became effective in September of the same year.
In addition to the ACSA, Japanese and Philippine officials are currently negotiating another agreement aimed at strengthening the security of sensitive defense and military information that the countries may share in the future. This aligns with broader efforts to reinforce their strategic partnership in the face of growing regional tensions.
The announcement of negotiations for the ACSA came in April last year when Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and then-Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba highlighted their mutual opposition to any unilateral efforts by China to alter the status quo in the East and South China Seas. Ishiba's comments, although not explicitly naming China, were widely interpreted as a direct critique of Beijing's aggressive maritime policies. He expressed hope for ongoing collaboration to establish a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law.
Since President Marcos assumed office in 2022, there have been increasing confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guard vessels in the South China Sea. In contrast, his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, had cultivated closer ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. China claims virtually the entire South China Sea, where it has significantly enhanced its naval presence and constructed artificial islands to fortify its claims. Other regional players such as Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, and Taiwan are also involved in ongoing territorial disputes in the region.
In the East China Sea, China routinely dispatches coast guard vessels and aircraft into contested areas surrounding islands claimed by both Tokyo and Beijing, frequently leading to confrontations. These actions have compelled Japan to scramble its jets in response. The United States has consistently issued warnings to China regarding its escalating aggressiveness in these contested waters, particularly towards Japan and the Philippines, who are considered among Washington's closest allies in Asia.
