China’s aggression brings Japan and the Philippines closer
America is thrilled to see two allies collaborate on security
Kishida fumio, Japan’s prime minister, appeared to be brimming with enthusiasm on November 4th as he toured the BRP Teresa Magbanua, the largest vessel in the Philippine coastguard’s fleet. Never mind that the ship is named after a revolutionary leader known in part for resisting Japanese occupiers during the second world war. These days, Japan and the Philippines are increasingly collaborating to resist China. The vessel, which was launched last year, was built by Japanese shipbuilders with loans from Japan’s government.
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This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Links in the Chain”
From the November 11th 2023 edition
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