THE Philippines and Japan signed a defense pact on Thursday that would allow the tax-free provision of ammunition, fuel, food and other necessities when their forces stage joint training to boost deterrence against China’s growing aggression in the region and to bolster their preparation for natural disasters. Japan has faced increasing political, trade and security tensions with China, which was angered by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remark that potential Chinese action against Taiwan could spark Japanese intervention. Japan and the Philippines have also had separate territorial conflicts with Beijing in the East China Sea and South China Sea that have continued to flare and threaten to draw in the United States, a treaty ally of the two Asian nations. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi signed the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement with Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro in Manila. Lazaro and Motegi also signed the Official Security Assistance (OSA) for 2025 to strengthen the Department of National Defense’s capacity to secure the Philippine territory and improve capabilities to deter threats that will compromise the peace, stability and security in the region. For 2025, the allocated amount for the OSA is 900 million Japanese yen, or about P341 million, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. Japan also agreed to provide grant aid amounting to 1.63 billion yen, or about P612 million, for the establishment of the Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi (Basulta) wireless backbone network, which aims to connect 40 government network sites and free public internet access points in Basulta. These agreements reflected “close collaboration under the strengthened strategic partnership” between Manila and Tokyo, Lazaro said. “Japan is a vital strategic partner of the Philippines, and our relationship will continue to be bound by shared values of democracy, respect for the rule of law and a commitment to peace, stability and prosperity in our region,” Lazaro said. Motegi said the enforcement of bilateral security cooperation with the Philippines, which is “rapidly expanding in recent years,” as well as enhancing relations with the US contribute to the peace and stability of the region. “I am determined to deepen Japan-Philippines relations even further toward the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Motegi. The DFA chief said she and Motegi expressed their commitment to the trilateral cooperation framework among the Philippines, Japan and the United States. She said Manila is “ready to host the next trilateral maritime dialogue.” “We reiterated the Philippines and Japan’s shared commitment to upholding a rules-based order governed by international law and the importance of resolving disputes peacefully and through dialogue,” she said. “In the maritime domain, we both recognized the value of promoting the rule of law, including the freedom of navigation and overflight, especially in the South China Sea,” Lazaro added. Motegi said he and Lazaro “concurred on continuing to oppose unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion in the East and South China seas,” in a clear rebuke of Beijing’s increasing assertiveness without naming China. The military logistical agreement, which has to be ratified by Japanese legislators before it takes effect, is the latest key defense pact to be forged between Japan and the Philippines to deepen their security alliance. Aside from facilitating joint combat drills, it would also help Japan and the Philippines jointly respond to natural disasters, a mutual concern and participate in peacekeeping operations by the United Nations, Japanese and Philippine officials said. In mid-2024, both countries signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), which allows the deployment of forces of either country to the other’s territory for joint and larger combat exercises, including live-fire drills. The RAA took effect in September. Japanese and Philippine officials are negotiating another agreement that aims to boost the security of highly confidential defense and military information the countries could share. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba jointly announced the start of negotiations for the Acquisition and Cross-servicing Agreement in Manila in April last year.