The US and Japan plan to transform the Philippines into a major supplier of critical minerals to reduce dependency on China. However, analysts warn that Philippine government reforms and corruption issues must be resolved to achieve this goal.

The US and Japan have an ambition to transform the Philippines into a critical minerals powerhouse and cut their reliance on China as part of a broader economic partnership, but analysts warn that a lack of commitment by Manila to introduce comprehensive reforms and tackle corruption could hamper the goal. A report by the US-based think tank Centre for a New American Security (CNAS) said cooperation between the three countries was central to leveraging the Philippines’ vast potential as a source...