Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday to observe an international combat exercise and hold talks with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., aimed at strengthening defense ties between the two nations, officials confirmed.
High-Level Meetings in Manila
Koizumi's discussions in the capital with Marcos and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. are expected to include the potential transfer of used Japanese destroyers to the Philippines, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Background of Defense Cooperation
The Philippines and Japan, both treaty allies of the United States, signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement in 2024, allowing their forces to conduct large-scale combat drills. This pact enabled Japan to deploy 1,400 military personnel for regular participation in the Balikatan exercises.
Balikatan, a Tagalog term meaning "shoulder-to-shoulder," involves U.S., Filipino, and other allied forces annually to prepare for security contingencies and counter China's growing assertiveness in the region.
Upcoming Live-Fire Exercise
Koizumi will join representatives from 16 countries, including India and Australia, on Wednesday in Paoay, northwestern Philippines, to witness a key Balikatan exercise. During the drill, Philippine, U.S., Japanese, and Canadian forces will conduct a mock attack on a decommissioned World War II-era Philippine navy warship about 40 kilometers (25 miles) offshore.
Japanese troops will fire two volleys of Type 88 missiles to help sink the target vessel, Philippine Marine Corps Col. Dennis Hernandez told the Associated Press. President Marcos plans to observe the live-fire maneuvers via video link from Manila.
Broader Regional Diplomacy
Before arriving in the Philippines, Koizumi visited Jakarta, Indonesia, where he signed a defense cooperation agreement with Indonesian Defense Secretary Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin on Monday.
"As Japan faces the most severe and complex security environment in the postwar era, it is important to establish a multilayered network of allies and like-minded countries, while expanding it and strengthening deterrence," Koizumi stated at a recent news conference in Tokyo.
Japan's Evolving Defense Posture
Japan has enhanced its offensive capabilities with long-range missiles to strike enemy targets from a distance—a significant departure from its post-World War II principle limiting force to self-defense. On April 21, Japan scrapped a ban on lethal weapons exports, another major shift in its pacifist policy, as it seeks to bolster its arms industry amid growing Chinese aggression. The Philippines shares these concerns following increased territorial disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea.
Lifting the export ban allows Japan to consider transferring up to six used Abukuma-class destroyers to the Philippines, which could be used for patrols and detecting aerial, sea surface, and undersea threats, Hernandez noted. This issue may arise in Koizumi's talks with Philippine officials, though details of the potential exchange have not been disclosed.
International Reactions
While allies led by the United States and Australia welcomed Japan's updated policy, China criticized the change. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said last month that the global community, including China, will "resolutely resist Japan's reckless moves toward a new type of militarism."
Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report.
