News Excerpt:

Japan and the Philippines have signed a significant defense pact, the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), allowing Japanese forces to be deployed to the Philippines for joint military exercises, including live-fire drills.

More about the News:

• This development marks a notable shift for the two nations, given the historical context of Japan's brutal occupation of the Philippines during World War II.
• The agreement reflects their evolving alliance in the face of an increasingly assertive China.

Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA):

• The RAA was signed by the Philippine Defense Secretary and Japanese Foreign Minister during a ceremony in Manila.
• The agreement, which also permits Filipino forces to enter Japan for joint combat training, will take effect following ratification by both countries' legislatures.
• This defense pact is Japan's first in Asia, following similar agreements with Australia in 2022 and Britain in 2023.

Japan’s New Strategy

• Japan has been boosting its security and defense capabilities, including acquiring a counter-strike capability, which marks a departure from Japan's postwar focus on self-defense.
• Japan plans to double its defense spending by 2027, aiming to become the world's third-largest military spender after the United States and China.

Japan and Its Neighbour

• Japan's military expansion is a sensitive issue for many Asian neighbors, including the Philippines, which experienced Japanese aggression during World War II.
• Nonetheless, Japan and the Philippines have steadily strengthened their defense and security ties.
• Japan's efforts are in line with the Philippines' strategy to build a security alliance and enhance the Philippine military's ability to defend its territorial interests in the South China Sea.
• This region, a vital global trade route, is almost entirely claimed by China but is also contested by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.

United States Military Alliance

• The United States has also been bolstering its military alliances in the Indo-Pacific to counter China and reassure its Asian allies.
• Both Japan and the Philippines are treaty allies of the U.S., and the U.S. president has reaffirmed Washington's "ironclad" commitment to defend both nations.