Issue Briefs

Philippines, Japan and the USA: A New Triangle in the works

The Dynamics of the Indo-Pacific in recent years have changed drastically with Countries becoming more security-oriented to keep their interests safe. In Southeast Asia, the Philippines, which straddles the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, is in a dangerous position where its interests can be compromised by a rising power in Asia.

The Japan-U.S.-Philippines Summit, which took place early this month, shows the country proactively seeking like-minded partners who come together to increase engagement at several levels and strengthen the US interests in the Indo-Pacific.

(Image Credits : Reuters)

A Historical Overview of American and Japanese Connection to the Philippines

The Philippines was a former colony of the USA when the USA purchased the country from Spain after the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898. At that time, the US was actively engaging with Japan and had opened up to the rest of the world. However, the Filipinos were considered as “American Nationals”, not Citizens. The country got the status of “Commonwealth” in 1935 where the country was an “Unincorporated territory of the United States of America”.

The Filipinos were one of the first Asians to migrate to the USA and currently makeup one of the largest diaspora communities in the USA. Filipino Nurses are one of the most sought-after professions in the American healthcare sector and many Filipinos fought on behalf of the USA during the Second World War.

Japan and the Philippines also had a cordial relationship in the past before the start of World War two, when Imperial Japan occupied the Philippines and established a puppet government. People were brutally tortured and thousands of women and girls were kidnapped and sent to Japan to be used as “Comfort Women”. This created discord between the two countries for a long time and there was a demand for reparations from the now-independent Philippines to Japan for all the damage done to the country and its people.

The ties between the two countries were normalised in 1956 after a long period of negotiations over repatriations and it saw a rise in investments from Japanese businesses and private investors. The two countries also signed a Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation in 1960.

Increasing engagements in the Present Day

Japan and the USA have been actively engaging with the current government of the Philippines under the leadership of Bongbong Marcos after his predecessor changed the country’s foreign policy towards China. Japan was and currently is a major partner for trade, economic development and defence. Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) provides major financial support to the Philippines for infrastructural projects through loan agreements with very little to no interest charged on them.

The US and the Philipines have a more extensive engagement at the defence front with joint exercises, personnel training etc. The USA used to have its military bases in the country from 1947-1991, with the US forces departing in 1992 after the failure of an extension within the Philippine parliament. Since 1992, the ties focused more on bilateral trade and investments. Under President Biden, the relationship between the two countries started to improve again with the visit of President Marcos to the USA in 2023, where they expressed a commitment tocooperate on Clean Energy, Economic Growth and defence. The two countries signed an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Arrangement (EDCA), which included the opening of four new bases in the Northern areas of the Philippines, targeting China. They are closely connected to the US territory of Guam, which is home to a large number of US naval bases.

Other Meetings that took place in 2023 include a National Security Advisor (NSA) meeting in June and December; two foreign ministers’ meetings in July and December, as well as a trilateral meeting in September 2023 between Prime Minister Kishida, President Bongbong Marcos, and Vice President Kamala Harris.

The 2023 Meetings can be seen as a buildup to the formation of a new alliance in the IndoPacific with the three countries.

Takeaways from the Japan-U.S.-Philippines Summit

The first-ever, Japan-U.S.-Philippines Summit took place on April 11, 2024, in Washington DC, USA. It was the second major trilateral summit to be hosted in the US which involves Japan. The summit also provides us with a “Vision Document” from the three leaders, US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippines President BongBong Marcos.

The document opened up with a statement on the success of the American partnerships with its Asian counterparts and the vision and commitment towards the Idea of a Free and Open IndoPacific. They welcomed the efforts of other existing security alliances like QUAD, AUKUS and the U.S.-Japan-Republic of Korea trilateral framework (JAROKUS). It also promised a commitment towards ASEAN and the Pacific Island Countries via the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) to successfully implement the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. The mention of this strategy is really important as Japan has already working with the PIF on the Fukushima Disaster Water discharge for the last few years and the Philippines is often classified as a “Pacific Island Nation” due to its location closer to the Pacific Ocean as compared to its South East Asian Counterpart.

One of the major announcements of the summit was the introduction of the “Luzon Economic Corridor” under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) which we Asia Open RAN Academy based in Manilaill connect major economic hubs within the Philippines via infrastructural projects ranging from Railways to Semiconductor hubs and supply lines and connectivity projects.

Other major commitments include an 8 Million USD investment towards the Open Radio Access Network (RAN) field trials and the establishment of Asia Open RAN Academy in Manila. The Japanese government is looking towards future investments in the expansion of Open RAN technology in the Philippines and other communication-related technologies. They also announced the organisation of the first trilateral Cyber and Digital Dialogue within this year.

On the security front, the document reiterates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the result of the arbitration trial in 2016 in favour of the Philippines which is not abided by China. U.S. and Japan expressed their desire to support the Philippine Coast Guard through capacity-building measures such as providing additional vessels and, the organisation of Joint exercises in 2025.

The document also talked about other regional concerns such as the threat from North Korea, Russia-Ukraine war and the tensions between China and Taiwan.

The Way Forward : Impact on Other Alliances

The US and Japan are a part of two security alliances, QUAD with India and Australia and JAROKUS with South Korea. Here, the Philippines lies in an interesting position as the document points out the possibility of a second regional alliance in the Indo-Pacific, centred around the Philippines, with Australia, South Korea, the US and Japan as Potential members. This could act as a double-edged sword as it may indicate that the South East Asian Nation is involved in other conflicts which don’t affect the country directly.

ASEAN countries, especially the South China Sea claimant countries can seek to join a security alliance. Vietnam is already pondering on joining the “QUAD Plus” formation but other countries might seek towards a hedging position to leverage their interests through the two clashing powers, US and China.

Conclusion

Despite the subtle foreshadowing through various meetings, this new trilateral alliance may have been one of the most unexpected formations in recent years. However, it can have a impact on South East Asian countries when it comes to securitisation as they would come under a position, similar to the cold war era where they have to pick a side or not.

For the Philippines, it will be a win-win situation as they will gain access to advanced technologies and support from US and Japan and expand their defensive capabilities to combat China. However, things might change after the results of the impending elections of the US in the second half of the year and the faith of this new security formation could be in the hands of the future president.

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Shagun Thapliyal