Japan’s Defense Minister Visits Manila as Balikatan Drills Showcase Allied Firepower

Key facts

• Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi arrived in Manila on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
• Koizumi met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
• The Philippines and Japan signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement in 2024, allowing Japan to deploy 1,400 troops for Balikatan.
• Balikatan involves U.S., Filipino, Japanese, and Canadian forces in a mock attack on a ship 40 km off Paoay.
• Japanese forces will fire two volleys of Type 88 missiles to sink a decommissioned WWII-era Philippine navy ship.
• Japan lifted its ban on lethal weapons exports on April 21, 2026, enabling potential transfer of up to six used Abukuma-class destroyers to the Philippines.
• China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun condemned Japan’s policy shift as 'reckless moves toward a new type of militarism.'

Koizumi Arrives in Manila Amid Expanded Military Exercises

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi landed in the Philippine capital on Tuesday to witness the Balikatan exercises and hold talks with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., officials confirmed. The visit marks a significant step in bilateral defense cooperation, coming just weeks after Japan scrapped its long-standing ban on lethal weapons exports. Koizumi’s meeting at Malacañang Palace with Marcos and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. is expected to address a potential transfer of used Japanese destroyers to the Philippines. The discussions build on the Reciprocal Access Agreement signed in 2024, which paved the way for Japan to deploy up to 1,400 military personnel to the annual drills.

Live-Fire Demonstration to Feature Japanese Type 88 Missiles

On Wednesday, Koizumi will join representatives from 16 countries, including India and Australia, in Paoay, a northwestern Philippine town, to observe a key Balikatan exercise. The drill will involve Philippine, U.S., Japanese, and Canadian forces simulating an attack on a decommissioned World War II-era Philippine navy warship positioned about 40 kilometers off the coast. Philippine Marine Corps Colonel Dennis Hernandez told reporters that Japanese troops will fire two volleys of Type 88 missiles to help sink the vessel. President Marcos plans to monitor the live-fire maneuvers via video link from Manila, underscoring the exercise’s strategic importance.

Japan’s Shift in Defense Policy Opens Door for Destroyer Transfer

Japan’s decision on April 21 to lift its ban on lethal weapons exports marks a major departure from its post-World War II pacifist stance. The policy change, driven by growing Chinese assertiveness in the region, allows Tokyo to consider transferring up to six used Abukuma-class destroyers to the Philippines. These vessels are capable of patrols and detecting aerial, sea surface, and undersea threats. Colonel Hernandez noted that the potential transfer could be discussed during Koizumi’s talks with Philippine officials, though specific details have not been disclosed. The move aligns with Japan’s broader strategy to bolster its offensive capability with long-range missiles, a break from its self-defense-only doctrine.

China Condemns Japan’s Militarization as Regional Tensions Rise

China has sharply criticized Japan’s updated defense policy, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stating last month that the global community will “resolutely resist Japan’s reckless moves toward a new type of militarism.” The criticism comes amid heightened territorial disputes between Beijing and Manila in the South China Sea. Balikatan, which means “shoulder-to-shoulder” in Filipino, is designed to prepare allied forces for security contingencies and deter China’s increasing assertiveness. The United States and Australia have welcomed Japan’s policy shift, viewing it as a necessary response to regional threats.

Koizumi’s Broader Diplomatic Push in Southeast Asia

Before arriving in the Philippines, Koizumi visited Jakarta, where he signed a defense cooperation agreement with Indonesian Defense Secretary Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin on Monday. The agreement underscores Japan’s efforts to build a multilayered network of allies and like-minded countries. “As Japan faces the most severe and complex security environment in the postwar era, it is important to establish a multilayered network of allies and like-minded countries, while expanding it and strengthening the deterrence,” Koizumi said at a recent news conference in Tokyo. His remarks reflect Tokyo’s strategic pivot toward proactive defense engagement across the Indo-Pacific.

Outlook: A New Era of Allied Military Cooperation

The Balikatan exercises and Koizumi’s visit signal a deepening of defense ties among the Philippines, Japan, and the United States, all treaty allies of Washington. The integration of Japanese forces into the drills, along with the potential destroyer transfer, could reshape the regional security landscape. However, the moves risk further antagonizing Beijing, which views the growing alliance as a containment strategy. The coming months will test whether the expanded cooperation can effectively deter Chinese aggression without escalating into direct confrontation.

The bottom line

• Japan’s defense minister visited Manila to observe Balikatan and discuss a potential destroyer transfer to the Philippines.
• Japanese troops will fire Type 88 missiles during a live-fire exercise, marking a deeper integration into the drills.
• Japan’s April 21 lifting of the lethal weapons export ban enables the transfer of up to six used Abukuma-class destroyers.
• China condemned Japan’s policy shift as militaristic, highlighting rising regional tensions.
• The Reciprocal Access Agreement allows Japan to deploy 1,400 troops for Balikatan, strengthening U.S.-Philippine-Japan cooperation.
• Koizumi also signed a defense pact with Indonesia, expanding Japan’s security network in Southeast Asia.