Strengthening Security Cooperation in the Face of Rising Tensions
Japan and the Philippines Vow to Enhance Security Ties
MANILA: Japan and the Philippines have pledged to strengthen their security cooperation to counter China’s actions in key sea trade routes, amid speculation that incoming US President Donald Trump may scale back security commitments in Asia.
Meeting and Discussions
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met with his Filipino counterpart Enrique Manalo and with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos in Manila to affirm security commitments. Iwaya and Manalo discussed Beijing’s efforts to assert control over the South China Sea, a strategic trade route, as well as Beijing’s territorial and sovereign rights claims in the East China Sea that overlap with Japan’s.
Agreements and Commitments
"In response to the developments in the South China Sea, we agreed to further strengthen Japan-Philippines partnership," Iwaya told a joint news conference. He vowed continuing Japanese assistance to enhance the "maritime security" and "maritime safety capabilities" of the Philippines, which has been engaged in increasingly tense confrontations with China over disputed South China Sea waters and reefs in the past year.
Concerns and Challenges
China claims most of the strategic waterway despite an international tribunal ruling that its claim lacked any legal basis. Manila expressed concern this week over Chinese coast guard ships patrolling close to its coast. Iwaya told reporters, "I am gravely concerned that actions heightening tension in the South China Sea are repeated." This was a "legitimate concern for the international community because it directly links to regional peace and stability," he added.
Trilateral Partnership
Manalo said, "our geopolitical security environment is growing more and more complex and challenging" and expressed concern over "unilateral actions that aim to undermine the rule of law in the East and South China Seas." "So we agreed to work together in that context, not only to address issues in the sense of defence and security, but to enhance resilience and enhance adaptive… capacity of our nations."
Japan’s Role
Japan is a key financer of Philippine efforts to modernise its South China Sea patrol craft as well as maritime surveillance systems. Iwaya said he and Manalo also agreed to strengthen their trilateral partnership with the United States. They pledged to "maintain good communication with the next US administration, to maintain and strengthen the momentum for our trilateral cooperation," Iwaya added.
US-Philippines Alliance
The United States has a decades-old security alliance with the Philippines that includes a mutual defence treaty and a 2014 pact which allows the US military to store equipment on nine Philippine bases. In a telephone call with US Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday, Marcos "expressed optimism in maintaining the strong and dynamic relationship" between the two allies under the incoming Trump administration.
Trump’s Agenda
Trump, who will be sworn in as president on Monday, has pushed an "America First" agenda based on avoiding foreign conflicts and protectionist trade policies.
Conclusion
The strengthening of security cooperation between Japan and the Philippines is a significant development in the face of rising tensions in the South China Sea. The two countries have agreed to work together to enhance their maritime security and safety capabilities, and to strengthen their trilateral partnership with the United States.
FAQs
Q: What is the significance of the Japan-Philippines security cooperation agreement?
A: The agreement is significant because it strengthens the security ties between Japan and the Philippines, which is crucial in the face of rising tensions in the South China Sea.
Q: What are the key areas of cooperation between Japan and the Philippines?
A: The key areas of cooperation include maritime security, maritime safety, and the modernization of the Philippine military.
Q: What is the role of the United States in the Japan-Philippines security cooperation agreement?
A: The United States is a key partner in the agreement, and the three countries have pledged to maintain good communication and strengthen their trilateral cooperation.
Q: What is the impact of Trump’s "America First" agenda on the Japan-Philippines security cooperation agreement?
A: The impact of Trump’s agenda is unclear, but it is likely to have a significant impact on the agreement.