Reuters: Tokyo, Manila boost security ties as China pushes maritime claims
Japan and the Philippines agreed to strengthen security ties and discussed transferring military equipment and technology on Thursday in Tokyo's latest move to strengthen cooperation with Southeast Asian countries to counter China's maritime ambitions.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and visiting Philippine President Benigno Aquino also agreed to expand joint training and exercises between their militaries and to co-operate in building up the Philippines Coast Guard.
China has become increasingly assertive in the South China Sea, building artificial islands in areas over which the Philippines and other countries have rival claims.
WNU Editor: I expect this trend of forming political and military alliances to counter Chinese territorial claims to grow.
More News On The Growing Japan - Philippine Military Alliance
Philippines wants defense pact for Japanese troops -- AP
Japan to Provide Patrol Vessels to Philippines -- WSJ
Aquino: will begin talks to allow Japan to use Philippines' military bases -- Reuters
Japan, Philippines Seeking New Pact on Military Bases -- The Diplomat
Japanese troops may use naval, air bases in Philippines -- Business Standard
Philippines to allow Japan to use its military bases against Chinese aggression -- The Telegraph
Philippines Strengthens Foreign Alliances Amid China Sea Dispute -- VOA
Text of Japan-Philippines Joint Declaration on strategic partnership -- Asia Times
2 comments:
This is exactly what needs to happen.
19th century military planning was predicated somewhat on having coaling stations world wide.
The US should not have been in the Phillipines. That is we should not have stayed. Admiral Dewey and Mark Twain said as much. President McKinley made a bad call.
Every thing that we wanted or needed could have been obtained with a SOFA and trade agreements. Given that that the U.S. made that mistake, I will still take it over other countries and their mistakes.
Point is that everything China wants could be had the same way IMHO.
Aizino,
You are so right. Very well written. I could not have expressed this better myself.
Additionally, these types of alliances will help take some of the strain off of the US military and hopefully, in time, allow us to redeploy to positions that make more sense for our national security interests. We do NOT need to be defending or advancing Japanese and Philippines territorial interests in the Pacific ocean.
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