Japan Joins Largest-Ever Balikatan Drills, Sending Combat Troops to Philippines for First Time Since WWII

Japan is sending 1,400 troops to the U.S.-Philippine Balikatan exercises, marking its first combat troop deployment to the Philippines since World War II.

This move is enabled by a new Japan-Philippines defense pact and driven by Japan's increased defense spending and China's escalating actions in the South China Sea.

The participation transforms the U.S.-Japan-Philippines security triangle from a diplomatic concept into a tangible military presence aimed at deterring regional coercion.

Japan is making a historic shift in its security posture by sending combat troops to the Philippines for the first time since World War II. This deployment of approximately 1,400 Self-Defense Forces personnel to the annual Balikatan exercises represents a significant step in solidifying the U.S.-Japan-Philippines trilateral alliance.

This development didn't happen in a vacuum; it's the result of a carefully constructed chain of events. First, the strategic foundation was laid in April 2024 at the first-ever trilateral leaders' summit between the U.S., Japan, and the Philippines. The leaders pledged to strengthen defense ties and conduct joint maritime activities, setting a clear top-down mandate for the military cooperation we see today.

Second, a crucial legal framework was established. The Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), which came into force in August 2025, provides the legal basis for Japanese troops to operate on Philippine soil. Without this treaty, such a large-scale deployment would have been an ad-hoc arrangement at best. It transforms what could have been a symbolic gesture into a routinized and scalable military partnership.

Third, the immediate catalyst has been the increasing maritime coercion by China in the South China Sea. Throughout 2025, numerous incidents involving Chinese Coast Guard vessels using water cannons and engaging in collisions with Philippine ships raised the urgency for a credible, multinational deterrent. These actions reframed the Balikatan exercises from routine training into a direct response to regional security threats.

Finally, Japan's own evolving capabilities have made this contribution meaningful. Record-high defense budgets have funded the development and deployment of advanced capabilities like the Type-12 anti-ship missiles. This means Japan is not just showing up as an observer but is bringing combat-credible sea-denial capacity to the table, significantly enhancing the alliance's ability to control key maritime chokepoints. In essence, diplomatic promises have been converted into hard power.

Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA): A treaty that governs the procedures and legal status of visiting military forces from one country while in the territory of another for exercises and other cooperative activities.
Sea-Denial: A military strategy focused on preventing an adversary from using a specific maritime area, without necessarily controlling it oneself. It often involves deploying anti-ship missiles, submarines, and mines.

Japan Joins Largest-Ever Balikatan Drills, Sending Combat Troops to Philippines for First Time Since WWII

Japan is sending 1,400 troops to the U.S.-Philippine Balikatan exercises, marking its first combat troop deployment to the Philippines since World War II.

This move is enabled by a new Japan-Philippines defense pact and driven by Japan's increased defense spending and China's escalating actions in the South China Sea.

The participation transforms the U.S.-Japan-Philippines security triangle from a diplomatic concept into a tangible military presence aimed at deterring regional coercion.

Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA): A treaty that governs the procedures and legal status of visiting military forces from one country while in the territory of another for exercises and other cooperative activities.
Sea-Denial: A military strategy focused on preventing an adversary from using a specific maritime area, without necessarily controlling it oneself. It often involves deploying anti-ship missiles, submarines, and mines.