Japanese military joins mock ship-sinking drill in South China Sea
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · May 6
Japanese military joins mock ship-sinking drill in South China Sea
15 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · May 6
Alongside US and Philippine forces, Japan fired missiles off Ilocos Norte on Wednesday and sent combat troops to the Philippines for the first time since World War Two.
The exercise marked a significant expansion of Japan's military role near contested waters, highlighting closer security cooperation with Washington and Manila.
It underscores Tokyo's post-war shift toward projecting power closer to China as regional tensions in the South China Sea continue.
With Japan's troops in the Philippines for the first time since WWII, is this a new shield for Asia or a magnet for conflict?
As Japan sheds its post-war pacifism, could its new military might provoke the very conflict it is trying to deter?
Japan’s Historic Deployment of 1,400 Combat Troops in Balikatan 2026: A New Era in Indo-Pacific Security
Overview
The Balikatan 2026 exercise marked a historic moment as Japan deployed 1,400 combat troops and advanced military assets to the Philippines for the first time since World War II, enabled by the Reciprocal Access Agreement. This deployment was a direct response to China's growing military assertiveness in the South and East China Seas. The trilateral security partnership between the U.S., Japan, and the Philippines deepened, expanding to include multiple nations and new domains like space. While enhancing regional deterrence and cooperation, the exercise also heightened tensions, with China increasing its military presence nearby and issuing diplomatic warnings, raising risks of escalation in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific.