PHILIPPINES – DEFENSE: Manila and Tokyo prepare a strategic intelligence pact

 

The Philippines and Japan have officially launched negotiations to sign an agreement to share sensitive military information, marking a new step in strengthening their cooperation amid tensions in the South China Sea.

 

In a joint statement, the Japanese and Philippine foreign ministries confirmed the opening of discussions on a type agreement General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), a system already used by Tokyo with the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and South Korea.

 

An agreement focused on maritime security

 

The future agreement is expected to cover intelligence sharing regarding vessel movements, airspace violations as well as cyber threats affecting the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the China Sea.

 

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said the agreement would help “strengthen not only regional alliances, but also the rules-based international order”. The two countries now plan to hold a “2+2” ministerial meeting in Tokyo in September, bringing together the foreign and defense ministers of the two states.

 

Tokyo strengthens its offensive in Southeast Asia

 

This agreement is part of Japan’s broader strategy to strengthen its military partnerships with several Southeast Asian countries. At the beginning of May, Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro had already visited Jakarta and Manila to deepen maritime cooperation with Indonesia and the Philippines.

 

Tokyo is seeking in particular to strengthen three major areas: military interoperability, the sharing of sensitive information and transfers of Japanese military equipment. Japan recently relaxed its rules on exports of defense equipment.

 

Japanese satellites to monitor the South China Sea

 

The Japanese Ministry of Defense also announced that it wanted to propose to the Philippines a technical protocol allowing the Philippine Navy to access twelve Japanese surveillance satellites by 2027. This cooperation would strengthen Manila’s maritime surveillance capabilities in the contested areas of the China Sea.

 

At the same time, the annual modernization budget of the Philippine Navy increased from $2.8 billion to $4.1 billion.

 

Pékin dénonce un accord hostile

 

China reacted quickly to the announcement of these exchanges. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian expressed Beijing’s “firm opposition” to the rapprochement and warned that China would take “necessary countermeasures.”

 

Tensions remain particularly strong around Chinese territorial claims in the China Sea, where several incidents involving Philippine and Chinese ships have increased in recent months.

 

Washington supports the project

 

The United States immediately welcomed this initiative. The spokesperson for the US State Department, Tammy Bruce, indicated that Washington “fully supports” this agreement, emphasizing the importance of strengthened cooperation between strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

 

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