Japan and the Philippines will announce on Thursday (May 27) their plan to formally begin negotiations toward a security intelligence-sharing agreement, the latest move to tighten bilateral cooperation amid shared concerns over China's growing military activities.
According to diplomatic sources, the pact would allow Tokyo and Manila to exchange sensitive intelligence, including data on maritime and aerial activities. This is seen as a significant step in the strategic partnership between the two countries, which has been upgraded in recent years.
The agreement is expected to create a legal framework for transferring security information among intelligence agencies, militaries, and relevant ministries, enhancing the ability to coordinate responses to common security challenges. Preliminary discussions have been underway for several months.
The move comes as both Japan and the Philippines are strengthening security cooperation with other partners, including the United States and Australia. China remains a shared concern as Beijing intensifies military operations in the South China Sea and waters surrounding Japan.
The Philippines is a key ally of Japan in Southeast Asia, and the two countries have signed several defense cooperation agreements in recent years. The intelligence-sharing pact would mark a new step forward in bilateral relations.
