Japan signs pact to supply defense equipment to Philippines

Japan is planning to supply military equipment to the Philippines as part of a new defence pact between the two nations due to be signed on Monday.

Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the agreement he signed with Japanese Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa in Manila on Monday underpins the Asian nations’ “mutual desire to enhance our respective defence capabilities” and “to contribute to regional peace and stability”.

The agreement is another manifestation of the strengthening defense partnership between the Philippines and Japan.

Mr Gazmin emphasised that increased defence co-operation between Japan and the Philippines began before the recent spate of territorial disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea.

The Japanese government aims to conclude similar agreements with Indonesia and Malaysia, hoping to strengthen cooperation with countries sharing concerns over China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea.

The Department of National Defense (DND) said the agreement is a sign of a strong defense cooperation between the two countries.

Japan’s Emperor Akihito paid his respects last month at war memorials in the Philippines, where the largest number of Japanese invasion troops perished outside their homeland in World War II.

The move follows a growing political closeness between Japan and the Philippines, as reflected in their joint naval search and rescue drills held near disputed territories in the South China Sea a year ago.

It can be recalled that when Japan has adopted its new “Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment Technology” in April 2014, various discussions regarding Philippines-Japan defense equipment cooperation were conducted.

Aside from the United States, the Philippines has a standing VFA with Australia.

The Philippines is the first among the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to enter into such an agreement with Japan. The US lays no claims to the waters, but says it has an interest in ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight and non-use of force and coercion to assert claims.