Japan and Philippines deepen military ties through naval transfers to counter China.

The Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between Japan and the Philippines, confirmed by USNI News on August 12, 2025, is set to enter into force next month, ushering in a significant milestone in Asia-Pacific defense cooperation. The agreement, signed in Tokyo earlier this year and formalized through the exchange of diplomatic notes on Tuesday, establishes the legal framework for Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to conduct joint training, operations, and logistics coordination on each other’s territory. This agreement is Tokyo’s first such military access treaty with a Southeast Asian country, and Manila’s third after similar pacts with the United States and Australia. The RAA reflects a shared urgency in countering regional instability, particularly driven by escalating Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea.
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Japanese and Philippine naval forces conduct joint maritime drills in contested waters as part of deepening defense cooperation (Picture source: Armed forces of the Philippines)

The agreement covers wide-ranging operational and legal provisions necessary for reciprocal troop deployments. These include the status of visiting forces, customs and tax exemptions for military equipment, mutual recognition of professional qualifications, legal jurisdiction over personnel, and rules governing the use of weaponry and classified materials during peacetime and training missions. The RAA explicitly prohibits the permanent basing of foreign troops, respecting the Philippines’ 1987 constitution, but allows rotational deployments and the storage of defense equipment for future joint activities. Japanese units deployed under the RAA could include maritime patrol aircraft, JSDF engineering battalions for humanitarian missions, and potentially amphibious rapid deployment brigades during disaster relief or multilateral exercises. The Philippines, for its part, gains valuable access to advanced JSDF training programs, logistical frameworks, and joint planning mechanisms designed to improve interoperability across command-and-control, maritime surveillance, and amphibious operations.

This major strategic breakthrough is the result of years of deepening defense-industrial cooperation between Tokyo and Manila. Over the past decade, Japan has emerged as a reliable supplier of defense equipment to the Philippines, initially providing 10 multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) to the Philippine Coast Guard under highly concessional loans. This cooperation has since expanded to include fixed radar installations, maritime surveillance systems, and potential naval platform transfers aimed at strengthening Manila’s maritime defense posture. Japan’s approval of a $500 million loan for the construction of five new 97-meter patrol vessels further demonstrates the growing industrial synergy. One of these new Japanese-built ships, the RP Suluan (MRRV 4406), was recently observed on duty during the latest collision incident between Chinese naval units and the Philippine Coast Guard near Scarborough Shoal, exemplifying the direct operational impact of this cooperation.

Currently, Tokyo and Manila are in active talks for the transfer of up to six decommissioned Hatsuyuki-class destroyer escorts from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, alongside several P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, to be delivered by 2027. Although built in the late 1980s and 1990s, the Hatsuyuki-class ships retain functional anti-submarine warfare capabilities and could serve as a valuable interim solution to reinforce the Philippine Navy’s aging fleet. This proposed transfer complements Japan’s earlier delivery of 13 patrol vessels to the Philippine Coast Guard, which are already in active service patrolling disputed areas and escorting critical resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea. The defense-industrial relationship has not only delivered material capabilities but also cultivated sustained engagement between strategic planners, procurement agencies, and military operators. It demonstrates how defense industry exchanges can act as powerful intermediaries in shaping long-term security alignments, laying the groundwork for broader strategic commitments like the Reciprocal Access Agreement.

This long-term defense industrial engagement has served as a critical intermediary for strengthening political-military trust between the two countries. Unlike purely diplomatic overtures, defense-industrial partnerships generate sustained contact between defense officials, technicians, and strategic planners, creating the institutional familiarity required for more binding security alliances. The transfer of radar systems and patrol vessels allowed for maintenance, training, and shared logistics planning, which formed the foundation for a broader operational partnership. The RAA represents the logical next step, transforming bilateral military-technical cooperation into a strategic alliance with real operational consequences. In this context, the defense industry does more than produce hardware, it acts as a conduit for mutual strategic confidence, capability alignment, and operational convergence.

Japan’s entry as a defense training partner comes at a time when the Philippines is under growing pressure in the West Philippine Sea, facing frequent maritime confrontations with Chinese naval and paramilitary forces. Japanese maritime assistance and the expanded access agreement significantly enhance the Philippines’ ability to respond to hybrid threats through coordinated patrols, shared maritime domain awareness, and joint presence operations. With its experience in constitutional military limitations, Japan is seen by Filipino officials as a natural partner in building non-escalatory yet firm deterrence architectures. As the RAA comes into effect, Japanese units are expected to begin preparations for bilateral naval drills and logistics exercises in Subic Bay, while Philippine forces may gain opportunities to observe or participate in joint exercises near Japan’s southwestern island chain, including training focused on littoral defense and rapid island reinforcement.