The Philippines and Japan have deepened military ties amid shared concerns about China's growing assertiveness in the region.

The Philippines has ratified a new defense treaty with Japan that will allow each country's military to deploy on each other's soil amid heightened regional tensions with China.

The Philippine Senate announced the ratification in a statement Monday, saying it would "enhance the interoperability" between Japanese and Philippine forces.

"The ratification of the agreement further confirms the strategic partnership between the two countries and their mutual objective to enhance contribution to regional and international peace, security and stability," the Senate said.

Japan's ambassador to Manila, Kazuya Endo, was present for the adoption of the agreement.

Endo welcomed the finalization of the agreement in a statement and on social media, saying he hoped it would "facilitate the implementation of cooperative activities between the forces of the two countries, further promote security and defense cooperation, and peace and stability in the Indo- Pacific region”.

Defense Art. Gilbert Teodoro, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Enrique Manalo, and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, Endo Kazuya, receive a copy of the adopted resolution on the Senate's concurrence to the ratification of the PH-Japan RAA. #SenatePH pic.twitter.com/vz2lBcS4LS

— Senate of the Philippines (@senatePH) December 16, 2024

The agreement between the two countries was signed in July over shared concerns over China's growing assertiveness in the region and confrontations between Philippine and Chinese naval vessels in disputed areas of the South China Sea.

China claims much of the South China Sea, a key focal point for global shipping, but these claims are contested by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Known as the reciprocal access agreement (RAA)Japanese lawmakers must also now ratify the agreement in order for it to be fully implemented.

Under the arrangement, the movement of troops and equipment between the two countries will be smoothed to facilitate combat training and disaster response.

The ratification of the RAA by the Philippines marks the deepening of military ties between the two countries, a reversal of affairs from when Japan invaded the country during World War II.

Both the Philippines and Japan host US military bases and personnel, while Japan has similar RAA agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom, and is negotiating another with France.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila made no public comment on the development.