Japan for the first time has deployed ground troops to the Balikatan exercise, a series of multidomain drills staged across the Philippine archipelago. Participation by about 1,000 Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) Soldiers augments the annual training that began decades ago as a Philippines-United States exercise and now involves about 20 nations.
Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) personnel previously attended Balikatan as observers and in noncombat roles focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR). They participated in a maritime drill in 2025.
A reciprocal access agreement between Manila and Tokyo, which took effect in September 2025, allows JSDF and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel to operate in each other’s territory for exercises and other missions. It also strengthens collective deterrence along the first island chain, a strand of archipelagoes off Asia’s east coast that stretches from Japan to Indonesia and is a vital line of defense for the U.S. and its Allies and Partners.
The JGSDF deployment to Balikatan highlights deepening defense ties between Manila and Tokyo, The Diplomat magazine reported in March 2026. Japan, the Philippines and their longtime mutual ally, the U.S., increasingly coordinate maritime and defense initiatives amid evolving regional security challenges, particularly in the South China Sea.
Manila repeatedly has condemned Beijing’s actions in the part of the sea that Filipinos call the West Philippine Sea. The China Coast Guard’s increasingly aggressive maneuvers include ramming, blocking, firing water cannons and directing lasers at Philippine fishing and government vessels operating lawfully within the Philippines’ internationally recognized exclusive economic zone.
Japan, meanwhile, has faced frequent territorial incursions by China’s maritime forces in the East China Sea, including around the Japan-controlled Senkaku Islands. Tokyo also is concerned by China’s expanding military presence in the region.
Japan’s increased role in Balikatan reflects its shared interests with the Philippines in promoting regional stability and freedom of navigation. Australia, too, is deploying troops and air and naval assets to the exercise, and France also is participating. Other nations are sending observers.
Balikatan, which means “shoulder to shoulder” in Filipino, is the largest joint military exercise conducted by the Philippines and the U.S. “With the participation of Japan, this will expand the scope of our defensive operations,” said Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., the AFP’s chief of staff. “We are now working not only with the United States and Australia in preparing to defend the Philippine archipelago, but also our common areas.”
The 2026 iteration, from April 20 through mid-May, expands the exercise’s scope and intensity and addresses a range of potential contingencies. It emphasizes logistics, rapid deployment, and emerging domains such as cyber and space, along with maritime security, amphibious operations and HADR. AFP and U.S. troops will build a multipurpose structure for relief efforts in Carmen, Davao del Norte, as part of the exercise.
Throughout March and early April, multinational service members and civilians transported and pre-positioned structures, vehicles, weapons and supplies across the Philippines.
About 420 JGSDF troops also are taking part in the annual Salaknib exercise featuring Philippine and U.S. forces. Also held in the Philippines, Salaknib’s first phase ran April 6-17, with phase two following Balikatan in May and June. It includes about 4,400 Philippine troops, 2,800 U.S. personnel, and smaller contingents from Australia and New Zealand.
Japanese forces also are expected to train with Philippine and U.S. Marines during the Kamandag exercises in the Philippines in June and July 2026, The Japan Times newspaper reported.