INTL Philippines wants defense pact for Japanese troops

[Housecarl]

WOW!!!!

For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20150605/as-japan-philippines-military-43eec1a101.html

Philippines wants defense pact for Japanese troops

Jun 5, 6:11 AM (ET)
By MARI YAMAGUCHI

(AP) Philippine President Benigno Aquino III smiles at Japan's Emperor Akihito and...
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TOKYO (AP) — Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said Friday he wants to start talks to allow Japanese troops into his Southeast Asian country, as both nations try to build up their defenses at a time of tense territorial disputes with China.

A visiting forces agreement would allow for refueling and other logistical and legal needs for periodic visits by Japanese troops, Aquino told a news conference at the end of his four-day visit to Tokyo. The Philippines has similar deals with the U.S. and Australia.

The Philippines and Japan on Thursday signed a strategic partnership agreement and said they would start talks on selling Japanese military hardware and technology, while bolstering exercises and operations between their militaries. Japan will be delivering 10 patrol ships for the Philippine coast guard and also promised to upgrade its surveillance and defense capability.

However, the spokesman for the prime minister's office, Kenko Sone, said he did not know immediately whether Japan was also starting talks on a visiting forces agreement with the Philippines.

(AP) Philippine President Benigno Aquino III arrives for a press conference at the Japan...
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Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to expand Japan's military role abroad, and already has partnered with a number of countries, including Australia, to complement Tokyo's cornerstone alliance with the U.S.

Abe's Cabinet last year adopted a new interpretation of Japan's war-renouncing constitution that would allow Japan to aid foreign allies under attack. So far, Japanese troops have been restricted to Japan and its vicinity, and the changes are currently being discussed in parliament.

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani has said that the new law, if passed, could allow Japanese military to provide escorts and surveillance in the South China Sea, where the Philippines and the U.S. have challenged China's territorial claims.

Aquino said the two leaders touched on a possibility of starting talks toward forging a visiting forces agreement, and that the Philippines is ready to discuss further details. He said strategic partners need such an arrangement in case "there comes a time that you would need to be in coordination."

Japan hosts American troops under its bilateral security treaty but has no visiting forces agreement with other nations, except in the case of U.N.-led peacekeeping operations.

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Associated Press writer Teresa Cerojano in Manila, Philippines, contributed to this report.

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Follow Mari Yamaguchi at twitter.com/mariyamaguchi

 

[Palmetto]

Given past history and the raw remembrance of the Japanese occupation in WWII, the OP screams China.

Heed the warning.

Palmetto

 

[Firebird]

They willfully want Japanese troops back on their soil? Does the Bataan death march mean nothing anymore?

 

[Housecarl]

They willfully want Japanese troops back on their soil? Does the Bataan death march mean nothing anymore?

The Crimes of 70 years ago vs the Threat of more now and an opportunity for Japan to give "blood atonement" for the past.

However you look at it this is a real huge deal and change in the landscape.

 

[Bubble Head]

They willfully want Japanese troops back on their soil? Does the Bataan death march mean nothing anymore?

Ordinarily it would if the United States was not looked at like a limp noodle. The impending invasion of China has rearranged the alliances of the Pacific due to our inability to project ourselves as anything but a mouth. I look at the current situation in the Pacific and the United States as that of 1939-1940 when everything was being put in place for the upcoming World War. It will occur differently this time but occur it will.

 

[lisa]

Relationships between the Philippines and Japan are very cordial now. There are many phillipinos living and working in Japan and vice versa. Our church here has Japanese, phillipino, indonesian, and Nepalese representing Asian countries. (and one Swedish guy lol) Japanese and Phillipino marriages are pretty common too.