Japan’s decision to send combat troops to the Philippines for the first time since World War II and participate in a ship-sinking drill in the South China Sea this week underscores Tokyo’s rising willingness to project military power on China’s doorstep. Along with US and Philippine forces, the Japanese military fired missiles in a practice sinking of a mock enemy ship off the northern Philippines’ Ilocos Norte on Wednesday. The exercise is one of the highlights of the annual US-Philippine combat drills—known as Balikatan, or “shoulder to shoulder”—with Tokyo participating in a combat role for the first time.

Gale, A., & Venzon, C. (2026, May 7). Japan strikes combat role in South China Sea in post-war pivot. BusinessMirror, p. A18.