News analysis

Chinese aggression pushes Philippines towards greater cooperation with US, Japan

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr (left) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, Japan, on Feb 9, 2023. PHOTO: REUTERS
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MANILA - China’s military aggression is pushing the Philippines to usher in a new era of stronger defence cooperation with allies Japan and the United States, which could see the forging of a trilateral security deal designed to help counter Beijing’s rising influence in the Indo-Pacific.

During his five-day trip to Tokyo, which ended on Sunday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said he will assess Japan’s proposed security troika with Washington.

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