Analysts say the moves align with both Wellington and Tokyo’s broader strategic interests of ensuring regional stability and safeguarding their own security concerns. However, they also warn that it could provoke a reaction from Beijing, potentially escalating military aggression and diplomatic tensions in the region.
Under the Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement signed on Monday, New Zealand and the Philippines can provide each other with logistical support during joint exercises, training, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response operations.
Talks over an agreement for joint military exercises and humanitarian missions are also likely to be concluded “in the near future”, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said in a Monday joint press briefing with visiting New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Raymond Peters.
Tokyo ties
Manila is also on the verge of signing a deal with Tokyo that would allow forces from both sides to train in each other’s territories.
Japan has backed the Philippines in its own maritime row with Beijing in the South China Sea and has also supplied Manila with more than a dozen patrol vessels and other military equipment over the years.
Manila in 2020 bought four mobile long-range air surveillance radar systems from Japan to bolster its detection capabilities in the South China Sea. Two of the units have already been delivered, while the other two are expected to arrive within the next two years.
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Why is the Philippines aligning itself with the US after years of close China ties under Duterte
Why is the Philippines aligning itself with the US after years of close China ties under Duterte
Defensive coalition
Manila’s expansion of defence partnerships comes as tensions in the South China Sea grow over Beijing’s assertion of its maritime claims.
China has refused to accept the verdict.
While Japan’s constitution limits its ability to supply other countries with lethal military capabilities, Espeña said Tokyo could support its defence partners by providing critical enabling capabilities to strengthen their operational momentum at sea.
“The Philippines can hardly operate so much when alone [so] signing the Reciprocal Access Agreement will mutually serve interoperability,” he said. “An access agreement can also enable Philippine forces to tap domain awareness capabilities with an enduring operational tempo.”
“However, with more maritime traffic from China against the US and allies in the Pacific Ocean, New Zealand is likely forced to softly prevent a doomsday scenario at its doorstep by looking at more distant parts of the region,” Espeña said.
Victor Andres Manhit, president of the Stratbase Institute think tank in the Philippines, said Manila had not maximised its cooperation with like-minded states as more were still willing to side with it in disputed waterways.
“This is effective, because what we share with these countries is a belief that we need to respect maritime rights of maritime nations like the Philippines as a basis for international law,” Manhit told ABS-CBN News on Monday.