Photo/Illutration Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, second from left, during a bilateral meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila on Nov. 3 (AP Photo)

MANILA--Japan and the Philippines have agreed to begin talks to upgrade their bilateral relationship to “quasi-ally” status.

Visiting Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met here Nov. 3 with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The two leaders agreed to work toward signing a Reciprocal Access Agreement that would make it easier for members of the Self-Defense Forces and the Philippine military to engage in joint training exercises.

This will also involve simplifying procedures to obtain visas as well as to bring in weapons and ammunition into each other’s country.

Japan currently enjoys Reciprocal Access Agreements with Britain and Australia.

The agreement with the Philippines is designed to counter advances being made by China.

Japan, like the Philippines, is locked in a territorial dispute with China. In Japan’s case, it is over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. The Philippines has a similar dispute with China in the South China Sea.

At a joint news conference here after the meeting, Kishida said, “We agreed to further strengthen cooperation between Japan, the United States and the Philippines.”

Marcos said the Philippines and Japan share similar national security concerns.

The United States has also been bolstering ties with allies to counter Chinese advances.

Officials explained that a stronger trilateral relationship between Japan, the United States and the Philippines will allow for greater cooperation in the South China Sea, much like the cooperation in East Asia through stronger trilateral ties between Japan, the United States and South Korea.

Kishida and Marcos also agreed that the Philippines would be the first recipient of a new Japanese support program known as official security assistance begun this fiscal year. Under the arrangement, Japan will provide 600 million yen ($4 million) for the acquisition of a coastal surveillance radar system by the Philippines. The program is intended to provide grants to like-minded nations so they can bolster their defense equipment.

Marcos said the Japanese support would contribute to strengthening his nation’s coastal defense capability.

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