MANILA: A significant defence agreement allowing the stationing of troops on each other’s territory is scheduled to be signed by the Philippines and Japan on Monday.
High-level talks will take place in Manila between Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, and their Philippine counterparts, Gilberto Teodoro and Enrique Manalo.
Longtime US allies Japan and the Philippines have been strengthening their defence ties in response to China’s growing assertiveness.
According to the Philippine Presidential Communications Office, the reciprocal access agreement (RAA), which the two nations started negotiating in November, will be signed in front of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Under the agreement, defence personnel from Japan and the Philippines would be able to travel to each other’s countries for training and other purposes.
According to Don McLain Gill, a geopolitical analyst based in Manila, the RAA was significant because it would allow the Philippines “to enhance our interoperability with like-minded partners.” This would also complement what we are trying to do in terms of enhancing our security partnerships within the US hub and spokes network.
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