Japan and the Philippines are set to sign a pivotal defense pact on Monday, enabling Japanese forces to conduct joint military exercises, including live-fire drills, in the Southeast Asian nation. This Reciprocal Access Agreement, which also allows Filipino forces to train in Japan, marks a significant step in the evolving security partnership between the two countries.

The agreement will be signed by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa in Manila, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in attendance. It will become effective upon ratification by both countries’ legislatures.

Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara are in Manila to discuss further strengthening bilateral defense ties. This defense pact is Japan’s first in Asia, following similar agreements with Australia in 2022 and the UK last year.

Under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Japan is enhancing its defense capabilities, including adopting a counterstrike capability, signaling a shift from its postwar self-defense stance. Japan aims to double its defense budget by 2027, positioning itself as the third-largest military spender globally, after the United States and China.

Japan’s historical aggression during World War II, including its occupation of the Philippines, makes its current military expansions a sensitive issue in the region. However, both countries have progressively deepened their defense and security cooperation.

Prime Minister Kishida’s policies align with President Marcos’ strategy to strengthen security alliances to enhance the Philippines’ defense capabilities, particularly in the contested South China Sea. This region, a crucial global trade route, is almost entirely claimed by China but also disputed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.

The United States is also fortifying its military alliances in the Indo-Pacific to counter China’s assertiveness, including potential conflicts over Taiwan. Both Japan and the Philippines are U.S. treaty allies, and their leaders, alongside President Biden, reaffirmed their security commitments in three-way talks at the White House in April.

Tensions in the South China Sea have been escalating, highlighted by a violent incident on June 17 where Chinese coast guard personnel attacked and damaged Philippine navy vessels near the Second Thomas Shoal, injuring several Filipino sailors. The Philippines condemned the actions, demanding reparations and the return of seized weapons.

Japan and the U.S. promptly condemned China’s actions and urged compliance with international laws, with Washington reiterating its defense obligations to the Philippines under their mutual defense treaty.