The Philippines is strategic terrain – part of the so-called “first island chain” running from Japan to Taiwan and onwards through the Philippines to Malaysia. This chain of islands hems in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, or PLA, in the event of a war. And in peacetime as well.
The Philippines also plays an essential role in Taiwan’s defense, basically guarding Taiwan’s southern flank. If China moves on Taiwan it will have to deal with the Philippines.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida‘s recent visit to Manila ought to be viewed in the context of Japanese concerns over its own defense from an aggressive China.
Two Countries Working Together
Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr agreed to start talks on a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) such as Japan has with Australia and Great Britain. That makes military interactions between each nation easier to conduct.
But Japan and the Philippines already have a military-to-military relationship, though Japan doesn’t publicize it much. And it is often overshadowed by the more comprehensive Philippine-United States defense activities.
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) engagements with the Philippines have been going on for some time now ー including exercises in the South China Sea where the Chinese have been bullying the Philippines. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) has joined multilateral exercises and bilateral engagements in and with the Philippines. Japanese Air Self-Defense Force F-15 fighters put in a first-ever appearance in the Philippines in 2022.
Additionally, Japan has provided aerial and naval patrol craft to the Philippines. Air-defense radar systems are also in the works.
What Else Japan Can Do
Prime Minister Kishida is in fact bolstering the support Japan is already providing the Philippines ー both defense-wise and economically. He is indicating, too, that more of such support is on the way.
There’s much more that Japan can do on the defense front. That includes regular joint patrols with Philippine and other navies to defend Philippine territory. Japan could also send more than token-sized units to participate in the US-Philippine-led multilateral exercises in the Philippines. And when the time comes to directly confront Chinese bullying, Japan needs to step up.
But for now, Japan is demonstrating its support for the Philippines. And it complements the far deeper US military involvement in the country post-[Rodrigo] Duterte.
One hopes the Americans and Japanese are coordinating their efforts.
Looking Beyond the Military
Where Japan can make a real difference is in an all-out push to further assist the Philippines on the infrastructure and economic development front. Japan has the money, the know-how, and the experience. It’s carried out such projects in several other than first-world countries.
Japan of course has development projects already ongoing in the Philippines. But especially now that the Philippines is disentangling itself from several Chinese “Belt and Road Projects” that former President Duterte agreed to, it’s essential that Japan steps in and shows itself to be a good alternative to Chinese investment ー which it is.
It would be helpful if the Americans also joined in with the Japanese on this infrastructure development effort. But this is an area where Japan can and should be in the lead.
The “economic is the political” in this case. And when it comes to infrastructure such as ports and airfields and even roads, there is a clear military usefulness as well. That would be for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the US military, and potentially others, including JSDF.
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