The armed forces of the Philippines and Japan may hold large joint training exercises in the country – comparable to the annual Balikatan exercises with the United States – once Manila and Tokyo sign a reciprocal access agreement.
“The RAA is very important because it will allow Japanese forces, Japanese troops to come into our country to conduct trainings together with us. It will also allow our troops to come to Japan to train with them,” Brawner said.MANILA, Philippines — The armed forces of the Philippines and Japan may hold large joint training exercises in the country – comparable to the annual Balikatan exercises with the United States – once Manila and Tokyo sign a reciprocal access agreement .
Without such an agreement, Brawner said the AFP can only engage in subject matter exchanges with its Japanese counterparts on humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations. “We’re encouraging more like-minded nations to join us in these exercises because with this, we are trying to see how we integrate and inter-operate with one another in any scenario,” she said. “So if Japan will have an active participation other than just being an observer, then we welcome that.”
He later told reporters Japan remains seriously concerned about China’s “repeated acts that obstruct freedom of navigation and increased tension in the region, including the recent dangerous behavior that resulted in danger, in damage to the Philippine vessels and to the injuries to Filipinos on board.”
At the same event, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año thanked the Japanese military for its continuing support in the face of China’s aggression. He expressed hope the Philippines and Japan would continue “working closely with the international community to ensure that the region remains a zone of peace, freedom and cooperation.”
Information and communications technology development and proficiency in students should be a priority agenda, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged newly appointed Education Secretary Sonny Angara...
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