By Zhong Sheng
Japan and the Philippines have been rapidly strengthening their alignment through frequent moves. From announcing the launch of so-called maritime "delimitation negotiations" to advancing intelligence sharing, defense equipment transfers, and joint exercises, Japan and the Philippines are, under the guise of "security cooperation," in fact manufacturing bloc confrontation and raising regional security risks. These negative developments run sharply counter to the prevailing trend among regional countries seeking peace, development, and cooperation, and have triggered strong concern among people across the region.
The so-called "delimitation negotiations" between Japan and the Philippines have no legal basis and seriously infringe upon China's maritime rights and interests. During a visit to Japan by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the two countries issued a joint statement announcing the formal launch of so-called "delimitation negotiations" of their respective exclusive economic zones (EEZ) and continental shelf.
The proposed maritime delimitation between Japan and the Philippines concerns waters east of China's Taiwan Island. According to China's domestic law and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), China holds exclusive economic zone and continental shelf rights in these waters. Under the UNCLOS, the delimitation of exclusive economic zones and continental shelf between states with opposite or adjacent coasts shall be effected by agreement on the basis of international law, in order to achieve an equitable solution.
Any negotiations involving maritime delimitation in waters east of Taiwan must include China as a relevant party. By bypassing China and unilaterally initiating so-called "delimitation negotiations," Japan and the Philippines have seriously violated international law and the basic norms governing international relations. China has already lodged solemn representations with both Japan and the Philippines separately and firmly opposes these illegal and invalid actions.
At the defense level, Japan and the Philippines are continuously strengthening their security alignment. During President Marcos Jr.'s visit to Japan, the two sides agreed to formally launch negotiations on a General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA). What is particularly egregious is that during this year's US-Philippines Balikatan joint military exercise, the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) not only dispatched a large number of personnel to participate for the first time, but also openly fired two Type 88 surface-to-ship missiles on Philippine territory. This marks the first time since the end of WWII that Japan has launched offensive missiles outside its territory.
As a defeated country in WWII, Japan should have deeply reflected on its historical lessons and strictly adhered to its pacifist Constitution and "exclusively defense-oriented" principle. However, in recent years, right-wing forces in Japan have continuously eroded the constraints of the postwar peace system, including lifting restrictions on the export of lethal weapons, advancing long-range strike capabilities, expanding military presence in the Philippines, and promoting the implementation of the "Indo-Pacific strategy." These actions, all conducted under the guise of "security cooperation," aim to deploy military forces overseas. Japanese scholars have pointed out that Japan's current diplomatic actions are increasingly driven by bloc confrontation logic, but such binary thinking has become disconnected from today's real-world conditions.
The Philippines had been deeply victimized by Japanese militarism. During WWII, the brutal colonial rule and massacres carried out by Japanese forces led to the deaths of more than one million Filipinos from bombardment and famine. In the Manila Massacre alone, more than 100,000 civilians were slaughtered. Today, the Philippine government's accelerating alignment with Japan, even actively accommodating Japan's neo-militarism, is a typical act of geopolitical opportunism. On one hand, the Philippine side seeks to use Japanese resources to make up for its shortcomings in maritime defense and to pursue improper maritime interests through small-circle arrangements. On the other hand, it attempts to tie itself to extra-regional powers in exchange for short-term security dividends, while shifting domestic governance pressures by hyping external tensions. Such short-sighted behavior is pushing the Philippines into an extremely dangerous situation.
The Asia-Pacific is a home for peaceful development, not a chessboard for those pursuing selfish geopolitical gains. Japan and the Philippines' insistence on introducing bloc confrontation into the region has already become a source of disruption to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific. We urge the Japanese side to face up to history, act with caution, and stop moving further down the path of military expansion. At the same time, we also advise the Philippine side to follow the prevailing trend of peace and development in the region, and not to tie itself to the geopolitical chariots of other countries. Any attempt to provoke confrontation or undermine regional stability will ultimately be met with rejection from regional countries and the international community alike.