Philippine Coast Guard personnel observed a Chinese Coast Guard vessel monitoring a Philippine resupply mission at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on March 5. In response to China's growing naval presence, Japan is set to engage in a joint training exercise with the US and the Philippines in the same region this year. The collaboration is expected to be endorsed by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, President Joe Biden, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a three-nation summit in Washington on April 11.
During the summit, the three leaders are likely to agree to enhance trilateral security cooperation between Japan, the US, and the Philippines to counter regional challenges. Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force will reportedly participate in the joint training exercise or patrol operation planned by the US and Philippine militaries as part of the efforts to bolster three-way security collaboration. The strengthening of security ties between Tokyo, Washington, and Manila has been ongoing since Marcos assumed office in June 2022, emphasizing robust relations with the US.
In a move to further solidify the alliance, Japan intends to designate the Philippines as a "quasi-ally," a status akin to that of Britain and Australia. Kishida has already committed to providing coastal surveillance radar equipment to the Philippine military through Japan's official security assistance program following discussions with Marcos in Manila last November. As part of their strategic partnership, coast guards from the three nations previously conducted a joint training exercise in June of the prior year.