On Tuesday, Kyodo reported that Japan, the U.S., and the Philippines plan to formalize ministerial security discussions.
Kyodo said that the three nations might conduct their first summit in April.
Taiwan, between Japan and the Philippines, has become a focus of Chinese military operations that Tokyo and Washington worry may lead to war.
Japan participated in US-Philippine military drills in October.
Recall that, On February 9, Japan and the Philippines agreed to strengthen their defense relations, allowing Japanese soldiers broader access to Filipino territory as tensions mounted in Asia due to China’s expanding influence.
Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is visiting Japan after he and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin agreed to give the U.S. broader access to Philippine military sites to counter China’s territorial ambitions.
Marcos’ defense agreement with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida allows Japanese troops to train to respond to natural catastrophes and humanitarian needs in the Philippines. Japan and other Southeast Asian states may sign similar military cooperation agreements after the accord.
Kishida said the two nations would continue negotiations to improve and simplify their forces’ joint exercises and other operations, boost the supply of Japanese defense equipment and technology to the Philippines, and strengthen trilateral cooperation with the United States.
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