PH-Japan defense ties hit strategic mark at 70

BY THEPHILBIZNEWS STAFF

As the Philippines and Japan celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations, leaders and experts underscored a profound and evolving commitment between the two nations — one that has moved beyond strategic choice and into urgent necessity amid today’s volatile global landscape.

Speaking at a high-level conference organized by the Stratbase Institute and the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, officials emphasized that the enduring partnership between Manila and Tokyo now stands as a cornerstone for stability, resilience, and shared prosperity in an increasingly uncertain world.

Stratbase President and CEO Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit said the current geopolitical climate is “not a normal moment,” calling for stronger, more decisive collaboration among trusted partners.

“In a region where the stakes continue to rise, the Philippines and Japan have both the opportunity and the responsibility to work together — to strengthen economic resilience, enhance security cooperation, and uphold the principles that keep our region stable and open,” Manhit said.

He stressed that deeper cooperation is now essential, particularly in safeguarding supply chains and reducing vulnerabilities as geopolitical tensions intensify across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Diplomatic ties between Tokyo and Manila were formally normalized on July 23, 1956 under then President Elpidio Quirino, marking a post-war reconciliation that has since evolved into one of the region’s most enduring and strategic partnerships.

Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo described the relationship as entering a “golden age,” with cooperation “deepening and extending steadily across all fields.”

“As maritime nations along vital sea lanes, allied with the United States and facing similar challenges to maritime order, our security cooperation is a natural necessity,” Endo said.

Japan remains the Philippines’ top source of official development assistance (ODA), supporting major infrastructure projects nationwide, while also emerging as a key defense partner. This includes the landmark Reciprocal Access Agreement signed in 2024, enabling joint military training and troop deployments.

Endo also highlighted expanding multilateral engagements, including trilateral cooperation with the United States and quadrilateral initiatives with Australia, as well as increased participation of Japan Self-Defense Forces in joint exercises such as Balikatan.

Beyond defense and infrastructure, both countries are exploring new frontiers in cooperation, including space, green transformation (GX), digital transformation (DX), and artificial intelligence.

Finance Secretary Frederick Go reaffirmed Manila’s commitment to deepening ties, noting that the relationship has matured into one between “like-minded nations working together to advance stability, resilience, and opportunity in our region.”

Former Supreme Court associate justice Antonio Carpio, for his part, underscored the strategic importance of Philippine-Japan cooperation in upholding a rules-based order in the West Philippine Sea.

“What will happen five to 10 years from now in the South China Sea depends on what we do today,” Carpio said. “Our objective is to ensure that the rules-based order applies — anchored on UNCLOS and reinforced by the arbitral award — so the international community can stand behind it.”