Jonathan Frederic De Santos

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PPA photo release

Agence France-Presse

<p>TOKYO, Japan <strong>(UPDATED) </strong> — The Philippines and Japan agreed on Thursday to negotiate an intelligence sharing agreement, as the two nations draw closer under the increasing shadow of China&#x27;s naval ambitions.</p><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also said they would upgrade their ties to bolster security and economic cooperation.</p><p>&quot;At today&#x27;s meeting, regarding national security, we agreed to begin formal negotiations on the General Security of Military Information Agreement,&quot; Takaichi told a news conference following talks with Marcos.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/5/28/japan-may-see-ph-as-important-ai-hub-analyst-1541"><strong>Japan may see PH as ‘important AI hub’ — analyst </strong></a> </div><p>The deal will facilitate the secured sharing of classified military information of both parties.</p><p>Japan already has such an agreement with its partners the United States, Australia and South Korea to protect shared military secrets.</p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:514px;height:793px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2059968750078886077&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-05-28T13%3A29%3A10.287940%3Ad07ff0d6-fee2-49d2-af2c-a85f6a223772%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=7751844848dba0a91d1ce27cb2fc01ee60585753&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="2059968750078886077"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>The Japanese prime minister also said Japan will fast track the transfer of several warships to the Philippines.</p><p>&quot;We also concurred to accelerate the exchange between the defense authorities towards the transfer of Abukuma-class destroyers and others,&quot; Takaichi said.</p><p>&quot;In order to respond to the regional strategic environment, which is growing more severe, Japan will further deepen cooperation with the Philippines,&quot; she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/6/philippines-japan-sign-defense-equipment-deal-eye-expanded-security-cooperation-0003">Philippines, Japan sign defense equipment deal, eye expanded security cooperation<br/></a></div><p>Marcos also announced that the Philippines and Japan had a deal &quot;for the delimitation of our maritime borders.&quot;</p><p>&quot;These are very important steps to further strengthen our defense cooperation and to uphold a rules-based maritime order. They will enhance the mutual trust between our two countries,&quot; Marcos said.</p><p>The Philippines and Japan elevated their partnership to the highest tier, which is the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.</p><p>&quot;This milestone reflects the strength, depth, and breadth of our ties as we respond to the evolving challenges and opportunities of our time,&quot; Marcos said.</p><p>&quot;Our discussions reaffirmed our commitment to further advance cooperation across key areas, including economic partnership, energy resilience, decarbonization, cooperation on defense and security, maritime matters, as well as emerging and future-oriented sectors,&quot; he added.</p><p>In an earlier speech at the National Diet of Japan, Marcos highlighted the Japan and Philippines&#x27; commitment to a peaceful resolution of disputes especially on maritime matters.</p><p>&quot;We affirm our deep respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and our fundamental belief that all states, regardless of size or power, are equal, have a voice, and are free to pursue their development in accordance with international norms and law,&quot; Marcos said.</p><p>&quot;As maritime democracies, the Philippines and Japan are committed to strengthening maritime security and ensuring that our seas remain open, secure, and governed by rules—not by force,&quot; he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/5/28/japanese-businesses-commit-3-4-b-investment-during-marcos-roundtable-0825"><strong>Japanese businesses commit $3.4-B worth of investment in PH during Marcos roundtable</strong></a></div><p>Marcos&#x27; visit comes just weeks after Tokyo eased decades-old arms export rules in a major policy shift.</p><p>Ahead of his four-day trip, Marcos told Japanese media that the Philippines was &quot;very grateful for Japan&#x27;s continuing help and support in terms of our modernization of our military&quot;.</p><p>&quot;Japan and the Philippines have experienced the same difficulties in terms of coercive acts,&quot; he said. <strong>— with a report from Agence France-Presse</strong></p>

<p>The Philippines and Japan agreed on Thursday to negotiate an intelligence sharing agreement, as the two nations draw closer under the increasing shadow of China's naval ambitions.</p>

The Philippines and Japan agreed on Thursday to negotiate an intelligence sharing agreement, as the two nations draw closer under the increasing shadow of China's naval ambitions.

Japan, PH agree to protect classified military information, fast track warships transfer

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Japan, PH agree to protect classified military information, fast track warships transfer

Agence France-Presse

Published May 28, 2026 08:45 PM PHT

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Updated May 29, 2026 01:02 AM PHT

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Japan

Philippines

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

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