PH welcomes Japan’s new security law

The Philippines yesterday welcomed Japan’s landmark legislation that will allow its military to fight overseas for the first time in 70 years and respond to threats against its allies.

After its defeat in World War II, Japan has adopted a pacifist constitution that forbids it to use force in resolving conflicts, except in selfdefense.

“The Philippines welcomes the passage of legislation on national security by the National Diet of Japan. We look forward to efforts that strengthen our Strategic Partnership with Japan and those that would contribute further to shared goals of greater peace, stability, and mutual prosperity in the international community,” Foreign Secretary Albert F. del Rosario said in a statement. Malacañang also welcomed the move. “We welcome the passage of legislation on national security by Japan’s National Diet,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said, noting that Japan is a strategic partner of the Philippines.

Japan’s new law, heralding a shift in Japanese defense policy, came amid rising sea tensions between Japan and China on the East China Sea, and Southeast Asian nations like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia and China on the South China Sea.

The Philippines and Japan have an existing strategic partnership agreement – Manila’s second after the United States – that aims to bolster their cooperation on several fronts, including defense and maritime security.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been pressing for an expanded security role for Japan “to adopt to a changing security environment,” sparking domestic debate in Japan and drawing the ire of its rival China.