Due to its proximity to Taiwan, which China claims as its own, and its place in the South China Sea, it has been a key target of US efforts to create an arc of relationships.
In the event of a fight, Spanish assistance may be important for the United States.
Japan, afraid about possible future changes in US coverage in the region, was likewise seeking” to execute a larger part” as an impartial and stabilising pressure, Gill the researcher, said.
In recent years, Tokyo has ratified bilateral agreements with Australia and Britain.
The Philippines intends to do one with France while maintaining similar agreements with the United States and Australia.
Japan, which invaded and held the Philippines hostage during World War II, is a leading provider of foreign aid to the nation as well as a provider of security products.
The Japanese want to persuade Americans that Japan is the most trustworthy supporter of the United States, according to Renato Cruz De Castro, professor of international studies at De La Salle University in Manila.