Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 4) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday stressed that multilayered cooperation among allies is crucial to ensure law-based order is enforced in the South China Sea amid increasing aggressive acts from China.

Addressing Filipino lawmakers in a special joint session held for his official visit, Kishida warned the international order, based on the rule of law, is “under serious threat.” He added the trilateral cooperation among Japan, the Philippines, and the United States is underway to protect the freedom of the sea.

\”Through these efforts, let us protect the maritime order, which is governed by laws and rules, not by force,\” he said.

US President Joe Biden and Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have issued strongly-worded support for Manila after Beijing’s recent incursions and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

Kishida also recalled Japan’s participation in the joint US and Philippines Coast Guard drills last June. The same nations — with the inclusion of South Korea — will hold joint military exercises in the Philippines starting Nov. 9.

Kishida and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday opened negotiations for a Reciprocal Access Agreement between troops of the two nations—similar to the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and United States.

Improvements to PH security and defense capabilities

Kishida also detailed the other forms of assistance Japan and its private sector have extended to help enhance the capabilities of the Philippine Coast Guard and Air Force.

The prime minister said during the first day of his official visit, Japan agreed to provide coastal surveillance radars to the Philippine Navy this year as the first cooperation project of Japan’s newly established Official Security Assistance.