The Department of National Defense (DND) announced Saturday, Feb. 28, that it has represented the country for its maiden participation in the 3rd Japan Pacific Islands Defense Dialogue (JPIDD) held in Tokyo recently.

Hosted by the Ministry of Defense of Japan, the dialogue gathered defense and security leaders from Japan and Pacific Island countries to tackle shared regional concerns from Feb. 22 to 24.

The DND said the Philippine delegation was led by Defense Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Marita I. Yoro after Manila joined as an invited partner.

The DND said this year’s discussions focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, climate change, and maritime security.

It said the issues are seen as critical pillars for safeguarding communities and ensuring sustainable development across the Pacific.

The DND said the country’s participation in the high-level talks reflected Manila’s growing role in regional security discussions, and signaled wider recognition of the its stake in Pacific security affairs.

The DND’s participation came as Manila and Tokyo marked the 70th anniversary of the normalization of their diplomatic relations, and followed the ratification of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), which allows the two countries’ forces to conduct joint exercises and training on each other’s soil.

The RAA, signed in 2024, is considered a landmark pact between the two United States allies in Asia as it provides a legal framework for closer military cooperation and smoother deployment of troops during joint drills and disaster response operations.

The agreement took effect last Sept. 11, 2025 after approval by both governments and is seen as a pillar of the “new phase of strategic partnership” between Manila and Tokyo.

The DND noted that the RAA strengthens interoperability between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), and reinforces efforts to uphold a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific amid rising maritime tensions amid China’s growing presence.

On the sidelines of the JPIDD, the Philippine delegation held bilateral meetings with defense counterparts from Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore.

“These engagements explored avenues for expanded bilateral defense cooperation, reviewed capacity-building initiatives, and strengthened collaboration on mutual security concerns,” DND spokesperson Asst. Sec. Arsenio Andolong said.

For the DND, the country’s participation in the JPIDD broadened the country’s engagement beyond traditional Southeast Asian forums and placed the Philippines in conversations that link the Western Pacific and the Pacific Islands, which are areas increasingly affected by climate risks and strategic competition.

The DND said the move underscored the country’s commitment to multilateral security cooperation and highlighted Manila’s intent to contribute to regional stability through partnerships that address disaster response, maritime safety, and climate resilience.

The inaugural participation, it added, represented a meaningful step in expanding defense partnerships and reinforced the country’s stand in support of a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific.