Japan's Ishiba and Philippines' Marcos were held in Manila, with China facing each other's confidence in the South China Sea.

Leaders in Japan and the Philippines have pledged to deepen their security relations, including increasing intelligence sharing, as they are trapped in territorial disputes with China.

When he visited the Philippines for his first visit since taking office in October, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Tuesday that the two countries opposed "trying to change the status quo in the Eastern Sea and the South China Sea through force or coercion."

Ishiba said after talking with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr in Manila that the two leaders agreed to start formal negotiations on the defense treaty It is known as the acquisition and cross-service agreement.

trade When Japanese troops visited the Philippines for joint training under major defense agreements signed last year, food, fuel and other essentials will be allowed, and are expected to be approved by the Japanese legislature. The Philippine Senate approved it in December.

Ishiba said he and Marcos “also confirmed that future government negotiations with the government began to ensure future information agreement insurance.”

The Philippine president added that Tokyo's previous security aid "allows our security agencies, especially the Ministry of Defense, to achieve meaningful escalation" and praised the "golden age" in its relationship.

Talks held in Manila as both Japan and the Philippines face tensions with China.

China-Philippine relations have passed repeated tests involving the confrontation between the two countries in the disputed South China Sea.

Japan has its own dispute with China on the uninhabited islands in East China, known as China's China and Japan's Senkaku, which is claimed by Beijing but managed by Tokyo.

The Philippines and China are also in loggerheads on the controversial sandbank in the South China Sea.

Beijing accused six Filipinos of illegally landing on Tiexian Reef, also known as Sandy Cay, despite “warning and dissuasion” from China. Beijing said the lawsuit "violates China's territorial sovereignty."

Their shared complaints about China's territorial claims have made Japan and the Philippines increasingly relevant to each other and towards the United States.

Marcos and former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Washington's Trilateral Summit late last year with then-U.S. President Joe Biden.

Ishiba said he and Marcos "affirmed the importance of Japan-US-Philippine cooperation" at the meeting on Tuesday.

The Japanese prime minister said on the economic side that the two also talked about the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff blitz.

"We discussed the current measures of the United States and its impact on … the world economy because of the mutual retaliation between the United States and China," Ishiba said.