By Focus | 2025-12-08

Japan and the Philippines have stepped up defense cooperation with new naval drills in the South China Sea.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) concluded their third bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) on November 29. The one-day naval training aimed to continue "the steady growth of defense cooperation between the two countries," the AFP said November 30 on X.

The AFP deployed the guided-missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna, a naval AW159 Wildcat anti-submarine helicopter and an air force C-208B surveillance aircraft. The JMSDF sent the destroyer JS Harusame and an SH-60K anti-submarine helicopter, according to the AFP.

Interoperability drills included coordinated movements, station-keeping and a photo exercise requiring the ships to maintain precise formation, industry outlet Baird Maritime reported.

A cross-deck landing exercise saw the Philippine navy's AW159 repeatedly land on the flight decks of both ships to familiarize air crews and ship personnel with each other's deck procedures and improve coordination for aviation operations, the AFP said.

The MCA followed the entry into force of a Reciprocal Access Agreement between Tokyo and Manila on September 11, which allows reciprocal deployment of forces and has been described by both governments as a major step in their security partnership.

Both countries have disputes with China over the control of various islands and have watched China's multi-decade military buildup with alarm.

Missile export debate

As part of that expanding partnership, several outlets reported that Japan was considering exporting its truck-mounted Type 03 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (Chu-SAM) system to the Philippines.

Kyodo News said informal talks on a potential sale had taken place as the government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi moves to further relax restrictions on defense equipment transfers.

Japan's Defense Ministry has publicly pushed back on that reporting. In an email to Stars and Stripes published on December 4, a ministry spokesperson said it was "not true that we are discussing export of Chu-SAMs" with Manila, while noting that Japan "regularly engages in various exchanges with the Philippines regarding defense equipment and technology cooperation."

The same report noted that the Type 03 system, deployed on Ishigaki Island at the far end of the Nansei chain, is designed to intercept aircraft and cruise missiles amid growing Chinese military activity near Taiwan and in the East China Sea.

Broader defense upgrades

For decades, Japan's so-called "five-category" rule has limited fully assembled defense exports to equipment for rescue, transport, warning, surveillance and mine-sweeping.

The government and ruling parties are preparing to abolish that rule around spring 2026 by revising the operational guidelines, Yomiuri reported December 2. It is a move intended to strengthen Japan's defense industry and expand cooperation with like-minded countries while adding new safeguards on where exported arms can be used.

Stars and Stripes separately reported that Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party has pledged to work on abolishing the five-category limits and that the Defense Ministry has confirmed scrapping the restrictions is under consideration.

Transferring destroyers

Japan is meanwhile in talks to transfer used Abukuma-class destroyer escorts to the Philippine navy. In July, Yomiuri reported that Tokyo plans to export six decommissioned Abukuma-class ships, in what would be the first transfer of JMSDF destroyer escorts to another country if realized. The report was later echoed by outlets including GMA News and Naval News.

Naval News quoted Philippine navy chief Vice Adm. Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta as saying discussions are in the early stages and that the number of ships and transfer schedule remain to be decided. The Abukuma class, optimized for anti-submarine and antiship warfare, would significantly increase the Philippine navy's ability to patrol and defend its maritime claims in the South China Sea.

Japan plans to renovate the ships and install devices and telecom systems requested by the Philippines, Yomiuri reported.

Japan's potential export of medium-range air defense systems, coupled with the transfer of key naval assets, would provide a much-needed boost to the Philippines' limited ground-based air defenses. Ultimately, the growing defense cooperation between Japan and the Philippines represents a new, vital component in the effort to stabilize the balance of power in the South China Sea.