The Philippines and Japan Team Up to Counter China Threat

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's trip to boost security ties with the Philippines led to a number of agreements, as both countries push back against ever more assertive behavior by China's maritime forces.

Japan chose the Philippines as the first recipient of the new Official Security Assistance program for what it deems to be like-minded partners. Both countries enjoy mutual defense treaties with the U.S., and both are locked in high-profile territorial disputes with Beijing—Tokyo in the Japan-adminstered Senkaku Islands and Manila in the waters in the South China Sea, especially the Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal.

During a meeting with his Filipino counterpart, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Kishida pledged a $4 million coastal radar system to augment the Philippines' detection capabilities.

Kishida has also suggested a reciprocal access agreement that would facilitate joint exercises and exchanges between Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the Philippines' military.

Kishida delivered a thinly veiled reference to China in a joint session of the Philippine Congress, saying: "In the South China Sea, bilateral cooperation to protect the freedom of the sea is underway. Through these efforts, let us protect the maritime order, which is governed by laws and rules—not by force."

He was the first Japanese prime minister to be invited to speak before the Philippines' legislature.

The Chinese foreign ministry didn't immediately respond to Newsweek's request for comment.

Philippine Senate President Migz Zubiri told CNN in an interview that he is confident he has more than the two-thirds majority, or 16 votes, needed to ratify the agreement. If so, the Philippines would become the third country, and the first in Asia, to share a reciprocal access agreement with Japan, after Australia and the U.K.

"The proposed [reciprocal access agreement] will facilitate the procedures and set guidelines when Philippine forces visit Japan for training and joint exercises, and vice versa," Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said in a statement Sunday.

Kishida also announced his government would fund additional patrol boats for the Southeast Asian country's coast guard.

Japan has already provided funding for and delivered 10 144-foot and two 318-foot patrol boats to the Philippines. The vessels are capable of search-and-rescue, maritime security, and disaster response missions, according to the Philippine transportation authorities.

In addition to the Philippines, Japan has selected Malaysia, Bangladesh and Fiji as Official Security Assistance beneficiaries for this year.

While in Malaysia on Sunday on the second leg of his international trip, Kishida met privately with Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim. They reportedly agreed to maintain strategic communication and facilitate Japanese defense assistance as well as cooperation between their respective coast guards.