Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed Thursday to strengthen security cooperation between Tokyo and Manila with an eye on China's growing hegemony in the East and South China Seas.
The comprehensive agreement aims to ensure smooth implementation of joint exercises between the Self-Defense Forces and the Philippines military in cases of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
The Japan-Philippines joint statement also lays the groundwork for expanded trilateral defense cooperation between Japan, the Philippines and the United States to bolster deterrence against China, with a possible Taiwan contingency in mind.
