Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is visiting Japan to strengthen defense ties and counterbalance Beijing's assertiveness in the South China Sea. The visit aims to bolster security and cooperation amidst regional challenges.

A rare visit by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr to Japan this week marks Manila’s latest bid to establish a counterweight to Beijing over the South China Sea dispute. During the four-day trip, the first state visit by a Philippine leader to Japan in over a decade, Marcos is expected to discuss boosting defence and other ties between Manila and Tokyo amid the security challenge posed by China’s growing maritime assertiveness, according to analysts. Marcos will meet Japanese Prime...