In November 2015, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that his country would consider sending the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force on patrols in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, Japan has been building up its relationships with Vietnam and the Philippines, both of which contest China's territorial claims in the South China Sea. In fact, Tokyo has taken steps to explore a visiting forces agreement with Manila that would allow Japanese ships and aircraft to refuel in the Philippines and let Japanese military personnel use Philippine bases on a rotational basis. China has been watching these developments with growing concern. Beijing has tried to persuade the United States to pressure Japan to stay out of the South China Sea, but it is simultaneously searching for alternative strategies to convince Tokyo to withdraw from the area.