Various groups protested before the Japan Ministry of Defense in Tokyo on April 18 to condemn the Japan Self-Defense Forces’ (SDF) participation in Balikatan 2025 that is set to be held in the Philippines from April 21 to May 9. The Balikatan war games are an annual military activity between the Philippines and the imperialist US, which now also includes the armed forces from other countries. It aims to strengthen the control of the imperialist state over its neocolonial state, intensify its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, and escalate war provocations against China.

Led by Asia-Wide Campaign (AWC)-Japan, Migrante Japan, and Japan Campaign for Human Rights in the Philippines (JCHRP), the protesters called on the government and its military officials to withdraw from participating in Balikatan. AWC-Japan officially conveyed their call through a letter to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani.

An estimated 15,000 to 16,000 military forces from the Philippines, US, Australia, and Japan will participate in Balikatan 2025. Japan SDF will be a full participant for the first time.

The Japan SDF will send 150 of its personnel. The SDF warship Yahagi destroyer will also participate in the war games. The prime minister of Japan is scheduled to visit the Philippines to support the Japanese troops in the war games.

“We oppose the Balikatan exercise, which raises military tensions in the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, we firmly demand that the SDFs’ participation in the exercise be suspended,” according to AWC-Japan.

The group also said Balikatan is part of the US “Indo-Pacific strategy” used with Japan to intensify their strategic encirclement of China using what they call the “First Island Chain.”

Aside from Balikatan, there are numerous military “cooperations” between Japan and the Philippines, including the recent delivery of a coastal surveillance radar system to the Philippine Navy through the Government Security Assistance Program (OSA).

In addition, the government of Japan is expediting the ratification of the Japan-PH Reciprocal Access Agreement, which was signed on July 8, 2024. The Philippine Senate already ratified the treaty on November 5, 2024. The RAA was established to allow the forces and entire military of Japan to freely enter and exit any part of the land, air, and waters of the Philippines.

Amid Japan’s intensifying militarism, AWC-Japan’s letter reminded the government of the dark history of Japan’s occupation of the Philippines, which brought immense suffering to the Filipino people. According to the group, not even having officially apologized for its crimes against Filipinos, the government of Japan is already pushing for widespread military expansionism in the Philippines.

“Stop the Balikatan Exercises! Oppose the US-led war in East Asia,” the group called.