The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: March 21, 2025
Today: March 21, 2025

Japan, Philippines agree to hold talks on reciprocal troops pact

Kishida, Japan's prime minister, holds news conference in Tokyo
April 26, 2024

By Mikhail Flores and Karen Lema

MANILA (Reuters) - The leaders of Japan and the Philippines on Friday agreed to start negotiations on a reciprocal troop access deal, strengthening military cooperation amid rising maritime tensions in the region and an increasingly assertive China.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr had agreed to work together closely with the United States, and, in a veiled reference to China, shared concern about "unacceptable" attempts to "unilaterally change the status quo by force" in the East and South China Seas.

Japan, Philippines agree to hold talks on reciprocal troops pact
Japan Prime Minister Kishida visits the Philippines

"A further decision was made to start negotiations on a reciprocal access agreement and we agreed to further strengthen trilateral cooperation," Kishida, who was on an official visit to the Philippines, told a joint press conference.

Both the Philippines and Japan, two of the United States' closest Asian allies, have taken a strong line against what they see as aggressive behaviour by Chinese vessels amid decades-old disputes over maritime sovereignty.

Japan does not have any claim to the South China Sea, but has a separate maritime dispute with China in the East China Sea.

The troop pact would follow a similar deal the Philippines has with the United States, called the Visiting Forces Agreement, which provides a legal framework under which the U.S. maintains a constant but rotating military presence in the Philippines, largely for training exercises.

"We are cognisant of the benefits of having this arrangement both to our defence and military personnel and to maintaining peace and stability in our region," Marcos said of a pact with Japan.

Tokyo has Reciprocal Access Agreements with Britain and Australia, and also hosts the biggest concentration of U.S. forces abroad.

Marcos also said Japan gave a 600 million yen ($4 million) grant to the Philippines under its Overseas Security Assistance (OSA) programme to help boost his country's efforts in securing coastal radars.

Japan's decision to expand the scope of international aid to military-related projects follows Tokyo's announcement in December last year of a doubling of defence spending in five years as it confronts regional security challenges from China and an unpredictable North Korea.

Ahead of the visit, the Japan defence ministry announced the delivery of the first air surveillance radar system to the Philippine military as part of a 2020 contract.

"Under the increasingly severe and complex international situation, we are deepening our cooperation in the area of security," said Kishida.

(Reporting by Karen Lema and Mikhail Flores; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Nick Macfie)

Related

Asia|Business|Economy|Political|Stock Markets|US

Stock market today: Wall Street closes higher, snapping a 4-week losing streak

Africa|Americas|Asia|Crime|Europe|World

Migrant deaths hit record in 2024, with 10% violently killed, UN agency says

Asia|Business|Economy|Political

India parliament panel asks government to cut tariffs to boost local manufacturing

Asia|Business|Political|Technology|US

FCC probing if Chinese tech, telecom firms seeking to evade US restrictions

Local

Europe|Local|News|Travel|US|World|WrittenByLAPost

Most LAX โ€“ Heathrow flights cancelled as London airport closes after blaze

Entertainment|Lifestyle|Local|News|US|WrittenByLAPost

Pacific Dining Car, 104-year-old steakhouse, struck by second fire during restoration

US|Crime|Local

Police to conduct DUI checkpoints in Downey

News|Education|Local

Cabrillo High School in Long Beach apologizes after racist photo from school event surfaces

Share This

Popular

Asia|Business|Economy|Political|Stock Markets|US

Stock market today: Wall Street closes higher, snapping a 4-week losing streak

Stock market today: Wall Street closes higher, snapping a 4-week losing streak
Africa|Americas|Asia|Crime|Europe|World

Migrant deaths hit record in 2024, with 10% violently killed, UN agency says

Migrant deaths hit record in 2024, with 10% violently killed, UN agency says
Asia|Business|Economy|Political

India parliament panel asks government to cut tariffs to boost local manufacturing

India parliament panel asks government to cut tariffs to boost local manufacturing
Asia|Business|Political|Technology|US

FCC probing if Chinese tech, telecom firms seeking to evade US restrictions

FCC probing if Chinese tech, telecom firms seeking to evade US restrictions

Asia

Asia|Business|Economy

China's central bank says it will boost forex market resilience

China's central bank says it will boost forex market resilience
Asia|Political|World

Japan PM says ties with South Korea, US remain important, South Korea says

Japan PM says ties with South Korea, US remain important, South Korea says
Asia|Business|Economy|Finance|Technology

Indian IT earnings likely to stutter in fiscal 2026 on US spending woes, analysts say

Indian IT earnings likely to stutter in fiscal 2026 on US spending woes, analysts say
Asia|Business|Economy|Political

India's $23 billion plan to rival China factories to lapse after it disappoints

India's $23 billion plan to rival China factories to lapse after it disappoints