Philippines Ratifies Defense Pact With Japan

Philippines Ratifies Defense Pact With Japan
Above: The Philippines and Japan sign a key defense pact on July 8, 2024. Image copyright: Ted Aljibe/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

The RAA strengthens regional security cooperation and promotes stability in the Indo-Pacific region by enhancing military interoperability and disaster response capabilities between trusted partners, while upholding international law and rules-based order.

Establishment-critical narrative

The agreement represents a concerning military expansion that could escalate regional tensions and trigger an arms race in Southeast Asia, while disregarding historical sensitivities regarding Japan's World War II presence in the Philippines.

Metaculus Prediction


The Controversies



Go Deeper


Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO

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