Philippines says military logistics pact with Japan now in force
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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr meeting Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on May 28.
PHOTO: REUTERS
MANILA – A bilateral defence pact signed early in 2026 allowing Japan and the Philippines to exchange supplies and services for joint exercises or crises has come into force, amid rising tensions with China.
The military logistics pact, signed in January, allows the armed forces of the two nations to exchange support and complements a reciprocal access agreement signed in 2025 to make joint exercises and troop deployments easier.
The agreement deepens a Japan-Philippines security partnership as both countries respond to China’s growing military and maritime activity in the region.
Manila is confronting Beijing over disputed areas of the South China Sea, while Tokyo faces its own security concerns regarding China.
The Philippine Department of National Defense said in a statement on Aug 22 it “welcomes the entry into force of the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement between the Philippines and Japan”.
The agreement “will greatly impact our bilateral activities, including exercises and humanitarian assistance and disaster response”, it added. BLOOMBERG
