Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday to observe a major international combat exercise and hold high-level talks aimed at strengthening defence cooperation between the two nations. During his visit to the capital, Manila, Koizumi is scheduled to meet with Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. Discussions are expected to include the potential transfer of second-hand Japanese naval destroyers to the Philippines.
Both Japan and the Philippines are long-standing treaty allies of the United States. In 2024, they signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement, which allows their forces to conduct large-scale joint military exercises. This agreement has enabled Japan to send around 1,400 troops to regularly participate in the annual drills known as Balikatan—a Tagalog term meaning ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’.
The Balikatan exercises involve US, Filipino, and other allied forces each year, focusing on enhancing readiness for potential security threats and countering China’s growing assertiveness in the region. Koizumi is among representatives from 16 countries, including India and Australia, who are expected to travel on Wednesday to the northwestern town of Paoay to observe a key segment of the drills.
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This particular exercise will feature coordinated firepower from Philippine, US, Japanese, and Canadian forces in a simulated attack on a target vessel located about 40 kilometres offshore. According to Philippine Marine Corps Colonel Dennis Hernandez, Japanese forces will launch two volleys of Type 88 missiles to help sink a decommissioned World War II-era Philippine Navy ship. President Marcos is expected to monitor the live-fire exercise remotely from Manila.
Prior to his visit to the Philippines, Koizumi traveled to Jakarta, where he signed a defence cooperation agreement on Monday with Indonesian Defence Secretary Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin. Speaking at a recent press conference in Tokyo, Koizumi emphasised the need for Japan to build a broader network of allies amid what he described as the most complex security environment the country has faced since the end of World War II.
In recent years, Japan has significantly shifted its defence posture, including enhancing its offensive capabilities with long-range missiles capable of striking enemy targets from a distance—marking a notable departure from its post-war policy of strictly defensive military use. On April 21, Japan also lifted its longstanding ban on the export of lethal weapons, another major step as it seeks to strengthen its defence industry in response to rising regional tensions, particularly with China.
The Philippines shares similar concerns, especially amid escalating territorial disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea. The policy shift now allows Japan to consider transferring up to six used Abukuma-class destroyers to the Philippines. These vessels could enhance maritime patrol capabilities and help detect aerial, surface, and underwater threats. However, specific details of any potential deal have not yet been made public.
While allies such as the United States and Australia have welcomed Japan’s updated defence stance, China has voiced strong opposition. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun recently warned that the international community, including China, would “resolutely resist Japan’s reckless moves toward a new type of militarism.”
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