As global attention focuses on China and Japan, Tokyo and Manila are quietly deepening their economic and “defense” ties.
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New Philippine-Japanese Defense Pact to go into Effect Next Month
What’s Really Going On In the South China Sea Between the Philippines and China
The Philippines, has succeeded in garnering support from Western countries through military assistance, funds to upgrade military bases and infrastructure, modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines, defense agreementswith at least 18 countries (minilateralism), joint military exercises in the South China Sea, and the addition of four new EDCA (under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, American military personnel, planes, and ships may station themselves periodically in the Philippines at predetermined places) sites—three in north Luzon facing Taiwan and one in Palawan facing the South China Sea. China sees this “coalition of the willing” as undermining “regional security and peace.” The Philippines should seek détente with China and practice quiet diplomacy, as their “transparency initiative” has only escalated tensions in the South China Sea, instead of risking World War III.
Understanding and Countering China’s Maritime Gray Zone Operations | RAND
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 