Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Japanese combat troops will take part in this year’s Balikatan exercises for the first time, as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ramps up joint military activities with allied and partner nations amid evolving global security challenges.AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said Japan, which previously joined the Philippines–United States annual drills as observers, will now deploy combat troops for active participation following the ratification of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) in 2025.“This year, the RAA now allows Japanese troops to come to the Philippines to join the Balikatan exercises,” Brawner said in an ambush interview on the sidelines of a Stratbase forum in Makati City on Tuesday.“For the very first time after a very, very long time, combat troops from the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) will be coming here to the Philippines to join us,” he added.The military chief, however, declined to disclose the number of troops and types of capabilities expected.Brawner said Japanese forces will participate in most components of the Balikatan, including field training, command post drills, and cyber exercises.He emphasized the significance of Japan’s involvement, recalling that the last time Japanese combat troops were in the Philippines was in 1945—during World War II.“Eighty-one years later, this is the first time we will have Japanese combat troops again on Philippine soil. Before, we were on opposite sides. This time, we find ourselves on the same side,” Brawner noted.Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya welcomed the expanded role of the JSDF in this year’s exercises, describing it as a natural progression of the two countries’ deepening defense ties.“That’s very natural for us to have a strengthened participation of the Self-Defense Force in the upcoming joint exercises, particularly in Balikatan,” Endo told reporters.“Our friendship goes way back to the previous history of our relationship, and we should always be aware of the long history of our relationship—not only in the last 80 years, but hundreds of years—and cooperation of the two countries. It goes way back to the 16th century,” he added. “But in the last 70 years, we have built gradually and steadily our stronger partnership in all the fields.”<div> </div><div>BIGGEST BALIKATAN YET</div>The AFP chief said Balikatan 2026 will be the largest iteration of the annual exercises in terms of intensity, even as tensions persist in the Middle East.Citing assurances from United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) chief Admiral Samuel Paparo Jr., Brawner said the scale and scope of the drills will proceed as planned.“We received confirmation from Admiral Paparo himself. He said that this will still be the biggest Balikatan exercise despite the war going on in the Middle East,” he said. “Sabi niya, hindi tayo maaapektuhan. Tuloy pa rin ang ating mga pinlanong activities, and yung scale and scope ay pareho pa rin.”The Balikatan is scheduled to run from April to May.Aside from expanded participation of partner nations such as Japan and Australia, this year’s drills will also involve more Philippine government agencies, such as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Office of Civil Defense (OCD).“This will expand the scope of our defensive operations dahil ngayon, kasama na natin hindi lamang ang Estados Unidos at Australia sa paghahanda ng pagdepensa natin, hindi lamang ng Philippine archipelago, but even our common areas,” Brawner said.“Mas mapapalawak ngayon yung mga gagawin nating exercises at mas makakapaghanda tayo for any eventuality, whether it is man-made or natural. Hindi lamang giyera yung [pinaghahandaan] natin. We are also preparing for disasters,” he continued.<div> </div><div>FOCUS ON CYBER WARFARE</div>This year’s drills will have a stronger focus on cyber defense, drawing lessons from the Middle East conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war.“Nakita natin doon sa giyera sa Ukraine and Russia, and doon sa Iran versus US and Israel, yung kahalagahan ng cyber defense. Bago umatake, for instance, ang Estados Unidos sa Venezuela and Iran, isa sa mga unang ginawa nilang hakbangin ay yung tirahin yung networks ng kalaban nila through cyber warfare,” Brawner explained.“That is why it is very important that we develop this capability of defending our resources and our networks,” he stressed.Brawner added that the AFP is looking to harness space technology as part of its modernization and preparedness efforts.<div> </div><div>ENERGY-SAVING MEASURES AMID RISING FUEL COSTS</div>Amid rising global fuel prices linked to tensions in the Middle East, Brawner said the AFP has implemented fuel-saving measures to preserve resources.The military chief issued directives to reduce consumption of fuel, electricity, and water, and to prioritize essential operations.“Kailangan ay patagalin natin yung mga reserves natin. Dahil hindi natin alam kung ano ang mangyayari, kailangan ay magtipid tayo,” Brawner said.“Yung mga non-essential activities ay hindi na namin ginagawa… Yung mga lakad sa headquarters, for instance, binabawasan natin, so that maipasa natin yung gasolina sa mga nangangailangang units natin sa field,” he added.But Brawner assured that critical operations, such as West Philippine Sea missions, will continue uninterrupted.“Tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang operations natin sa West Philippine Sea, yung pagpapatrulya natin sa kalawakan ng Pilipinas, ng archipelago, we have to continue doing that. Pati ang operations against lawless elements, communist terrorists and terrorist groups, tuluy-tuloy yun,” he noted.Brawner also clarified that there will be no fuel rationing for Balikatan, as logistics requirements for the exercise were already allocated last year.“Hindi natin kailangang bawasan ito. We are going to continue with all the Balikatan exercises, with all the components of these exercises despite the war going on in Iran,” he said.

Japanese combat troops will take part in this year’s Balikatan exercises for the first time, as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ramps up joint military activities with allied and partner nations amid evolving global security challenges.

Japanese combat troops will take part in this year’s Balikatan exercises for the first time, as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ramps up joint military activities with allied and partner nations amid evolving global security challenges.

81 years after World War 2, Japanese combat troops return to PH for Balikatan

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81 years after World War 2, Japanese combat troops return to PH for Balikatan

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 24, 2026 05:10 PM PHT

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AFP

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Japan

Balikatan 2026

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