Philippines hopes to sign key defence pact with Japan

The Philippines’ military chief said on July 4 he hoped a key defence pact with Japan allowing for the deployment of troops on each other’s territory will be signed at security talks next week.

The Philippines' military chief said on July 4 he hoped a key defence pact with Japan allowing for the deployment of troops on each other's territory will be signed at security talks next week.

Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa are set to meet their Philippine counterparts in Manila on Monday.

The Philippines and Japan — longtime allies of the United States — have been boosting ties in the face of an increasingly confrontational China, which is locked in maritime territorial disputes with both countries.

"We are hoping that during that meeting, the RAA, or the reciprocal access agreement, will be signed," military chief General Romeo Brawner told reporters.

"RAA is important because it will allow Japanese forces, Japanese troops to come into our country to conduct training with us. It will also allow our troops to go to Japan to train with them."

The Philippines and Japan began negotiating the pact in November.

The accord would create the legal basis for the countries to send defence personnel to each other's territory for training and other operations.