文威入
By Wen Weiru
日本“伊势”号护卫舰访问菲律宾（资料图）。
Japanese Navy’s destroyer JS Ise visits the Philippines. (File photo)
据日媒报道，2月8日至12日，菲律宾总统马科斯正式访问日本。9日，日本首相岸田文雄会见到访的菲律宾总统马科斯。据悉，这是马科斯自2022年6月就任菲律宾总统后首次访日，双方积极推动经贸和防务合作。
The Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos made an official visit to Japan from February 8 to 12, and met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on February 9, according to Japanese media reports. It is learnt that this is the first visit to Japan by Marcos since he took office in June 2022. The two sides will actively promote economic, trade and defense cooperation.
2月9日，菲律宾国防部和日本防卫省签署了人道主义支援和灾害救援的防务合作文件，该协议将为双方进行联合演习提供便利。
The Department of National Defense of the Philippines and the Ministry of Defense of Japan signed a defense cooperation document on humanitarian support and disaster relief on February 9, which will facilitate joint exercises between the two sides.
近年来，日菲防卫关系明显提升。2022年4月，菲律宾外长和防长赴东京与日本举行首次“2+2”会谈，就签署便于开展联合演习的《互惠准入协定》达成共识。在此之前，日本三菱电机公司向菲律宾出口4套警戒雷达系统，这是“日本防卫装备转移三原则”修订后的首个订单。日菲海上、空中力量还各自建立双边演练机制。2022年6月，日本派遣1架C-130H运输机和约20名自卫队队员参加菲律宾空军军事演习，同时向菲方传递日本将强化向菲输出军用太空技术的信号。2022年11月，日本海上自卫队派遣护卫舰赴菲，与菲律宾海军巡逻舰在苏比克湾周边举行联合训练。12月，在菲律宾允许下，日本航空自卫队两架F-15战斗机抵达菲律宾的克拉克空军基地，停留多日展开军事访问和交流。
The defense relationship between Japan and the Philippines has improved significantly in recent years. In April 2022, the Philippine foreign minister and defense minister went to Tokyo for the first "two-plus-two" talks with Japanese counterparts and reached a consensus on signing the Reciprocal Access Agreement to facilitate joint exercises. Prior to that, Japan's Mitsubishi Electric Corporation exported four air defense radar systems to the Philippines, which is the first order since the revision of The Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology. In addition, the sea and air forces of the two countries have also established bilateral exercise mechanisms. In June 2022, Japan sent a C-130H transport aircraft and about 20 members of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to participate in the military exercise hosted by the Philippine Air Force, and sent a signal to the Philippines that it would strengthen the export of military space technology to the Philippines. In November 2022, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force sent frigates to the Philippines for joint training exercise with vessels of the Philippine Navy around Subic Bay. In December, with the permission of the Philippines, two F-15 fighter jets of the JASDF arrived at the Philippines’ Clark Air Base and stayed for several days for military exchanges.
从此次马科斯访问日本的过程看，菲方侧重经济领域，日方聚焦防卫领域。实际上，日本近年持续拉近对菲防务关系，主要出于两点考虑。
Judging from the process of Marcos' visit to Japan, the Philippine side focuses on the economic field while the Japanese side focuses on the defense field. In fact, Japan has continued to build up its defense relationship with the Philippines in recent years out of two considerations.
一方面扩大武器出口。日本亟待解决军工产业困境，打开国际武器和技术出口局面。日本希望通过加强双边关系将菲律宾变成客户，扩大武器出口市场。另一方面拓展“印太机制”，提升地区影响力。日本将菲律宾视为印度洋-太平洋地区“安全战略点”，一直试图通过强化美日菲关系，拉拢菲律宾成为其盟友，谋求获得区域竞争优势。
The first is to expand arms exports. Japan urgently needs to solve the dilemma of the military industry and open the international arms and technology export situation. Japan hopes to expand its arms export market by strengthening bilateral ties and turning the Philippines into a customer. The second is to expand the so-called “Indo-Pacific mechanism” and enhance regional influence. Japan regards the Philippines as a security strategic pivot in the Indo-Pacific region and has been trying to win over the Philippines as its ally by strengthening US-Japan-Philippines relations, so as to gain regional competitive advantages.
对于菲律宾而言，马科斯希望借助其自身地缘优势实现本国利益最大化。据2021年菲通社数据，日本是菲律宾第二大贸易伙伴、第三大出口市场和第二大进口来源地。菲律宾通过强化对日关系持续获得经济利益，无疑是一笔合算买卖。不过，既是买卖，一方面是各取所需，另一方面是控制风险。一旦风险大于收益，买卖就失去了互惠互利的意义。因此，日菲走近的动向还有待进一步观察。
For the Philippines, Marcos hopes to maximize its own interests making use of its geographical advantages. According to data from the Philippine News Agency in 2021, Japan is the Philippines' second-largest trading partner, third-largest export market and second-largest source of imports. It is undoubtedly a good deal for the Philippines to continuously gain economic benefits through strengthening relations with Japan. However, since it is business, getting what is needed and controlling risks are equally important. Once the pains outweighs the gains, doing business will lose the meaning of mutual benefit. Therefore, the trend of the Japan-Philippines relationship remains to be further observed.
