Tokyo's defense relations with Manila are about to enter a new phase as Japan prepares to participate for the first time ever in large-scale annual drills between U.S. and Philippine forces as an official contributor of personnel and equipment — and not merely as an observer.
The Self-Defense Forces will dispatch about 150 personnel and a warship, the Mogami-class frigate Yahagi, to the multidomain Balikatan exercises, which are set to take place in the Philippines and surrounding waters from Monday to May 9.
Having only sent observers to Balikatan — Tagalog for “shoulder-to-shoulder” — since 2012, Japan plans to use its new role to “improve the SDF’s integrated operational capabilities” for various tactical and international disaster relief activities, according to the Joint Staff. It also plans to use the drills to strengthen cooperation with other participating countries to “contribute to the creation of a favorable security environment.”
The SDF personnel will join a combined force of about 14,000 U.S., Philippine and Australian troops who will come together for full-scale joint training aimed at enhancing operational readiness in diverse scenarios at a time of rising tensions with Beijing not only over territorial disputes in the South China Sea but also over the island of Taiwan.
That said, Japanese personnel will not participate equally in all activities.
While the SDF will join a multinational sail, disaster relief drills and exchanges on cyber and joint air and missile defense, they will only play an observer role in amphibious and coastal defense drills as well as joint logistics training.
The training maneuvers will take place before a bilateral visiting-forces agreement signed last year with Manila enters force. Formally known as a Reciprocal Access Agreement, the pact, which has yet to be ratified in parliament, aims to facilitate larger and more complex joint military activities as well as grant the SDF greater access to Philippine bases as Japan seeks to step up training and interoperability with partner forces.
To be largely held on the Philippine islands of Luzon (near Taiwan) and Palawan (near disputed parts of the South China Sea), "Balikatan 2025," which will start only a few days before Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba visits Manila later this month, is expected to be one of the largest and most intense versions of the exercise series, which this year marks its 40th iteration.
Not only will it feature Japan’s maiden participation, but allied and partner forces are also set to conduct a "full battle test" covering a range of scenarios — from conventional warfare to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief — to test the level of joint preparedness for various contingencies.
This includes a multilateral maritime exercise, a command-and-control drill, maritime strike and counter-landing live fire maneuvers as well as a combined joint all-domain operations drill that also involves rehearsing integrated air and missile defense.
The drills will see the U.S. dispatch about 9,000 troops — by far the largest contingent — including a newly formed formation called the Littoral Rotational Force-Luzon.
In terms of new equipment deployment, U.S. assets will include advanced surface drones as well as the Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, an advanced ground-based anti-ship missile system — in a move likely to infuriate Beijing, which has already voiced its anger over Washington's continuing deployment of the Typhon missile system in the country.
Balikatan 2025 also comes as Washington, Tokyo and Canberra have all been rapidly deepening defense and security ties with Manila. From joint naval patrols, to the provision of assorted defense and coast equipment and considerations of greater defense-industrial cooperation, these countries all have vested interests in strengthening Manila’s as well as their collective capacity to deter and potentially also counter any Chinese aggression.
This also applies to the new U.S. administration. with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announcing a flurry of measures late last month to step up bilateral ties as Washington sought to reassure its oldest treaty ally in Asia of its “ironclad” defense commitment. The U.S. has also approved the sale of up to 20 F-16 Block 70/72 fighter jets to the Philippines, transferred advanced unmanned systems and reportedly been operating MQ-9A Reaper surveillance drones from the country.
The Philippines’ proximity to both Taiwan and key sea lanes in the South China Sea makes it an attractive staging point for the U.S. and its allies that could boost their ability to respond to regional crises.
This appears to also include Manila's preparation to play some type of role in a Taiwan contingency not only because of its proximity to the self-ruled island but also because of its role as a U.S. ally.
In fact, Philippine Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo S. Brawner was quoted as telling troops of Northern Luzon Command earlier this year to prepare for a Taiwan invasion contingency, citing the repatriation of citizens and the “inevitability” of Manila’s involvement in a cross-strait conflict.
“Because, if something happens to Taiwan, inevitably we will be involved,” Brawner said, adding, “Start planning for actions in case there is an invasion of Taiwan.”
While the U.S. is Manila’s sole treaty ally, the Philippines has also turned to other players for support in its maritime and territorial disputes with China. This includes signing security deals with extraregional partners such as the European Union, Britain and Germany, while recently clinching visiting-forces agreements with Canada and New Zealand and aiming to sign another with France. South Korea also acts as an important supplier of military equipment.
“We will work very closely, not only with our treaty ally, but also with other like-minded partners in reestablishing deterrence,” Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said last month. “This will mean increased inter-operational activities, joint exercises, and realistic training in a myriad of scenarios.”
The Philippine defense chief said he expects an “increased rotational presence of like-minded and allied troops” in the Philippines under its strategic basing plan, which aims to identify points to support and project forces beyond territorial waters and into Manila’s exclusive economic zone.
Manila’s outreach to more and more countries will also be reflected in Balikatan 2025 as military observers from a total of 19 countries — including Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom — have been invited to attend the large-scale drills.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.