JapanPhilippines Defense Pacts Critical to Stifling China Threat: Analysts

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (center R) and Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro (center L) stand with their teams in Manila, the Philippines, on Jan. 15, 2026. Joeal Calupitan/AP PhotoTokyo and Manila, the Philippines, have inked two pivotal security agreements to cement a United States-led “Asian NATO” structure that effectively counters Beijing and drastically raises the costs of a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, experts say.Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi formalized the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) with his counterpart Maria Theresa Lazaro in Manila on Jan. 15, establishing a legal framework to facilitate the mutual exchange of supplies and logistical support between their defense forces.