Participants to the Philippines-hosted Balikatan military exercises is expected to grow even further with the anticipated inclusion of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) once a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between Manila and Tokyo is signed.
In an interview on Saturday, AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. said that the JSDF may take part in the next iteration of the annual war games, which was traditionally exclusive between the Philippines and the United States.
“We will have a Balikatan Exercise every year and for next year– 2025– we are expecting that we will again have a big exercise and hopefully we will have other nations joining us,” Brawner said.
He said that the Philippines will continue to host the large-scale military exercises with more allied countries in defiance of persistent protests from Beijing.
“These are not only the United States and Australia, but we are also trying to get Japan, because we are hoping the RAA will be signed very soon,” Brawner continued.
It can be recalled that during the 39th iteration of the Balikatan Exercises earlier this year, Philippine and U.S. forces were joined by counterparts from Australia and France as well as military representatives from 14 other nations taking part in an observer program.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that high-level defense talks are scheduled between Japan and the Philippines on July 8.
Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and their Filipino counterparts are expected to discuss “defense and security issues affecting the region,” the DFA noted.
The high-level meeting is widely seen to be a forerunner to the RAA’s signing.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. clarified that the Manila’s RAA with Tokyo is not the same as the country’s Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with Washington.
“It’s not the same as a Visiting Forces Agreement… it’s very, very different from what the Reciprocal Agreement will be with the Japanese,” Marcos said during the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines 50th Anniversary talks.
“It’s not going to be as if it’s their base… and they, their seamen, will come down and will go into the city… I don’t think that that’s a part of the agreement,” he pointed out.
The President previously said the Philippines and Japan would greatly benefit from the RAA in maintaining regional peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
“The agreement would be extremely significant between the two countries because it will give them greater capability in terms of security, disaster preparedness, alleviation, and adjustment,” Marcos emphasized.
In related developments, a West Philippine Sea (WPS) monitor on Monday reported China Coast Guard (CCG) ships conducting a “resupply cruise” to its outposts in the Spratly Islands also passed near five features of the West Philippine Sea.
Maritime Security expert Ray Powell disclosed that the 8,000-ton Sansha 2 Hao first passed off Pag-asa (Thitu) Island on Sunday morning, accompanied by the San Sha Zhi Fa 301.
He added that the two ships also traversed the waters near Patag (Flat) Island, Lawak (Nanshan) Island, Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, and Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.
Powell also explained that as of Monday, the two ships were within 60 nautical miles of Malaysia’s coastline “to assert the southern extent of Beijing’s maritime claims.”
“This mission has two purposes — to deliver supplies to Beijing’s Spratly Island bases, and to mark the extent of its maritime claims,” Powell explained.
Last week, the CCG’s “monster ship,” also conducted what Powell called an “intrusive patrol” in similar features.
For his part, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Spokesperson on West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela on Thursday reported that the monster ship may have been on a resupply mission when it entered Kagitingan Reef.
The 13,000-ton Chinese ship was even spotted as close as 34 nautical miles away off El Nido, Palawan.
Maritime features in Spratly Islands occupied by the Philippines are collectively known as the Kalayaan Island Group.
Meanwhile, former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio has called on the Philippine government to file new arbitration cases against China’s aggressive and illegal actions in the WPS over a reception dinner aboard the BRP Melchora Aquino in Manila on Friday.
In his speech, the former magistrate said the Philippines must pursue legal action even if it is unlikely that China will cooperate in view of the arbitral tribunal having already invalidated its nine-dash line claim.
“We should file another arbitration case. China is in dread of the Philippines filing another arbitration case. In fact, we should file several arbitration cases… China will not join the arbitration because China knows it will lose” he stressed.
Carpio cited Wu Shicun, president of China’s National Institute for South China Sea Studies, who recently warned that China should prevent the Philippines from filing another arbitration case.
Wu reportedly acknowledged that such actions would expose China’s bullying nature towards smaller neighbors and further isolate it in the region.
“Let us challenge China to submit the entire Spratlys territorial dispute to arbitration by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Let’s formally challenge China,” Carpio urged.
In May, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo confirmed that the Office of the Solicitor General is considering the possibility of filing another arbitration case against China.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline Japan potentially joining Balikatan Exercises upon RAA signing