Japan and Philippines' defense pact signed on Monday seeks to counter China's increasing aggression in the region and create deterrence that goes beyond reliance on the U.S., experts told CNBC. The RAA marks Japan's second such agreement with a country in the Asia-Pacific region, following similar agreements with Australia in 2022. The treaty must be ratified by the appropriate legislative bodies of the Philippines and Japan before coming into force. Kamikawa called the signing of the RAA "a great achievement" for the two countries to further strengthen security and defense cooperation. "Both countries have maritime territorial disputes with China, and they are facing increasingly assertive and aggressive Chinese naval forces," Yaacob added.

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Persons: Fumio Kishida, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Thomas Shoal, Gilberto Teodoro, Yoko Kamikawa, Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr, Teodoro, Rahman Yaacob, Kamikawa, Yaacob Organizations: Japan's, ASEAN, Japan, CNBC, Philippine Defence, Japan's Official Security, Southeast Asia, Lowy Institute Locations: Philippines, Tokyo, Japan, China, South China, Manila, Philippine, Asia, Pacific, Australia