This is John Batchelor, conversation with colleague Lance Gatling in Tokyo about the Japanese

intention not only to defend Taiwan when and if attacked by the People's Republic of China.

But also the Philippines, especially now under threat

from the PLA Navy and Coast Guard in the South China Sea. The relationship with the Philippines

must include the memory of the Japanese invasion in 1941, 42 that left the island ravaged, Luzon Island ravaged, and the exit from Manila was

a massacre in an outrage.

It burns in the memory of the Philippines.

However, the Philippines needs help, and Japan is offering.

What kind of help?

What is the debate?

Is Lance to explain?

More of this later tonight. The relationship with the Philippines is still in the early days.

The Philippines certainly is an important possible ally of Japan.

It's not a, it's not necessarily a treaty ally at the moment,

but certainly they share a lot of information that's that is increasing day-to-day.

It seems after spending by spending 30, 40 years here watching this.

It's moving at a pace it was hard to imagine some years ago, but they still have a long ways to go.

And once again, the presence of the United States

and the separate treaties it has, a bilateral treaties

it has, certainly complicates this.

So when the Kishita makes an appeal to American leadership,

he specifically is talking about the South China Sea

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