孙 敏
By Sun Min
日本与菲律宾举行联合军事演习。
Japan and the Philippines hold joint military exercise.
4月9日，日本和菲律宾在东京举行首次外长防长“2+2”会议，并发表联合声明。近段时间，日菲两国互动频繁，此次建立新的高层对话机制，旨在将双边关系提升到新高度。有媒体称，日菲此举是在特定形势下作出的趋利行为，一揽子合作计划看似“成果丰硕”，实际上在操作过程中将会受到诸多限制。
Japan and the Philippines held their first “two-plus-two” talks between their foreign and defense ministers in Tokyo on April 9 and issued a joint statement afterward. The two countries have had frequent interactions recently, and the establishment of the new high-level dialogue mechanism is aimed to elevate bilateral relations to a new level. Media reported that the latest cooperation package between Tokyo and Manila is an interest-driven move under special circumstances that only appears “fruitful” but will meet many restrictions during implementation.
2021年10月，日本首相岸田文雄上任伊始便提议举办日菲“2+2”会议，由于两国忙于自身事务，一直未能兑现。今年2月下旬以来的地区冲突，对国际形势和地缘格局产生了较大影响，也促使日菲不断走近。可以说，日菲在特殊情形下提升双边关系，各有盘算。
In October 2021, right after taking office, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida proposed the “two-plus-two” meeting with the Philippines, but the proposal was unavailable until now, due to busy schedules on both sides. However, since late February this year, the regional conflicts have not only affected the international geopolitics but also brought Tokyo and Manila closer, reflected in concrete steps to elevate bilateral ties, though perhaps for different reasons and purposes.
日本岸田政府近期明显提升在外交和防务领域的活跃度，调整“地球仪外交”和“价值观外交”策略，以利益观而非价值观为优先项，打着“印太繁荣战略”幌子，通过“金援”和所谓全方位合作，展开周边外交，在迎合美国的同时，提高自身影响力。此前，日本通过援助医疗设备、新冠疫苗和“二手”舰船，持续强化与越南、马来西亚、印尼等东盟国家在防务和外交领域的合作。此次主动“牵手”菲律宾，意在继续深化与东盟国家的合作，为未来外交提前布局。
The Fumio Kishida administration has been notably more active on the diplomatic and defense fronts recently. Adjusting its “diplomacy that takes a panoramic view of the world map ” and “values diplomacy ” strategy, Tokyo is now giving precedence to interests rather than values and conducting neighboring diplomacy through financial aid and so-called all-around cooperation under the slogan of “Indo-Pacific prosperity”, with a view to enhancing its own influence while catering to America’s demands. Previously it has consistently intensified the defense and diplomatic cooperation with ASEAN members such as Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia by providing medical equipment, COVID-19 vaccines and used ships. Its overture to the Philippines now is also aimed to deepen the cooperation with ASEAN and pave the way for future diplomatic moves.
在菲律宾看来，东欧局势一定程度增加了“平衡外交”的权重。此外，杜特尔特政府也期望借上述合作获得日方在基础设施建设、防疫物资和军工用品方面的援助，并通过此类事件为6月即将举行的总统选举加分。
The situation in Eastern European has made the Philippines attach more importance to balanced diplomacy, and the Duterte government hopes to get Japanese aid in infrastructure construction, anti-virus supplies and military-industrial goods through cooperation, which would be in his favor in the upcoming presidential election in June.
在会后的联合声明中，两国官员确认，作为共享基本价值观和战略利益的海洋邻国，两国“将致力于进一步加强协调，以应对区域和国际问题”，为实现“自由和开放的印度-太平洋”开展合作。对自身海洋权益和国际地区局势的关切是双方交流的重要话题，也是日本方面会前抛出并极度渲染的议题。
In the joint statement issued after the meeting, officials of the two countries confirmed that as marine neighbors sharing the basic values and strategic interests, they will better coordinate with each other to cope with regional and international issues, and work together for a “free and open Indo-Pacific”. The meeting revolved around the two countries’ concerns for their own maritime interests and rights and for international and regional situations, topics that Japan went to great lengths to hype up before the meeting.
根据联合声明，两国将开展军队互访并交换防务装备，以提高协同作战能力。双方还将在苏禄海等地区开展海上安全合作，日本重申了支持棉兰老岛和平进程，菲律宾则表示，支持日本成为安理会常任理事国。两国部长还讨论了“共同防范基于政治目的的经济胁迫和网络安全问题”。
According to the joint statement, Japan and the Philippines will have their troops visit each other and exchange defense equipment to enhance interoperability. They will also carry out maritime security cooperation in the Sulu Sea. Japan reaffirmed its support for the peace process on Mindanao Island, while the Philippines expressed its support for Japan to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. The ministers also discussed politically driven economic coercion and cyber security.
未来，日本可能以合作为名，派遣海洋调查船赴菲律宾海开展水文数据和气象研究，上述数据可能服务于军事领域。此外，日本海上自卫队明确表示，将加大印太方向训练强度。此前，日本自卫队每年出动2至3批舰船编队赴东盟国家周边海域遂行港口访问、联演联训等任务，预计未来规模和频次将大幅提升。
Going forward, Japan, in the name of cooperation, may dispatch oceanographic research ships to carry out hydrological and meteorological research in the Philippines, whereas the collected data may be used in the military domain. Besides, the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force made it clear that it will ramp up training intensity in the Indo-Pacific front. Previously, the Japanese Self Defense Force (JSDF) dispatches two or three batches of vessels annually to the sea areas of ASEAN countries for port calls, joint exercises and training. It is predictable that such activities will increase sharply both in frequency and scale.
值得一提的是，就在日本和菲律宾“2+2”会议举行前一天，美菲刚刚结束30年来最大规模联合军事演习。可以预见，在美国推波助澜下，日菲在亚太地区的军事活动将进一步增加，值得周边国家关注和警惕。
It's worth noting that the US and the Philippines just wrapped up their largest-ever joint military exercises in 30 years a day before the "two-plus-two" meeting between Tokyo and Manila. It's foreseeable that with America's backing, Japan and the Philippines will step up their military activities in the Asia Pacific, which should put neighboring countries on alert.
