Both Tokyo and Manila are longtime allies of the United States, which has been strengthening an arc of alliances to deter China's claims in the Pacific.

Manila is shoring up military partnerships with other nations as it seeks to counter Beijing in a South China Sea dispute.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., right, meets Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani during a courtesy visit at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, Philippines, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025.

Japan and the Philippines agreed on Monday to further deepen defence ties in the face of an "increasingly severe" security environment in the Indo-Pacific region, Japanese defence minister Gen Nakatani said on Monday.

France, Australia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand—following Washington’s lead—have each staged war games or concluded alliances with Manila targeting China.

Japan and the Philippines have agreed to further deepen their defense collaborations and start talks on an arrangement to protect shared military information in the face of mutual alarm over China’s i

Japan’s expanded military ties with the Philippines are a logical progression of its ties to the United States.

Nearly 1,700 firefighters are battling Japan's biggest forest fire in three decades, officials said Monday, as some 4,600 residents remain under an evacuation advisory.

The Philippines and Japan pledged to enhance their defense alliance through training exercises, logistical activities, equipment transfers and intelligence sharing on Monday amid China’s assertive moves in the South China Sea.

The Philippines shares a common cause with Japan of opposing any unilateral attempt to reshape the global order, its defence minister said on Monday.

Japan and the Philippines agreed on Monday to further deepen defence ties in the face of an "increasingly severe" security environment in the Indo-Pacific region, Japanese defence minister Gen Nakatani said on Monday.

(AP Photo/Aaron Favila) MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — An "increasingly severe" security environment has made deepening security ties with the Philippines a necessity, Japan's defense chief said Monday after a meeting with his counterpart in Manila.