Japan is preparing military aid for the Philippines to help secure sea approaches and safeguard Taiwan's western flank, officials say, deepening security ties that could bring Japanese forces back there for the first time since World War Two
Japan's military aid to the Philippines "will expand step by step and my hope is that it will change to include lethal weapons" such as anti-ship missiles, said Kawano, who served as chief of the Japanese Self-Defence Forces' Joint Staff for five years until 2019.
In February the Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Kishida agreed in Tokyo that their militaries would cooperate in disaster relief. All of this, experts say, could be a precursor to a reciprocal access agreement that would allow both countries to deploy their forces on each other's soil. If Manila accepts such an agreement - Tokyo has RAAs with Britain and Australia - a pact could be concluded within a year, another of the three Japanese government officials said.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Analysis: Japan hopes to shore up Philippines' defence amid Taiwan conflict fearsJapan is preparing military aid for the Philippines to help secure sea approaches and safeguard Taiwan's western flank, officials say, deepening security ties that could bring Japanese forces back there for the first time since World War Two.
Read more »
Biden dispatching Sullivan to Tokyo for talks with Japan, Philippines, South Korea officialsPresident Joe Biden is dispatching White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan to Tokyo this week for talks with his counterparts from Japan, Philippines and South Korea.
Read more »
Asian stocks rise on Fed pause bets, Japanese shares at 33-year highs By Investing.com⚠️BREAKING: *ASIA STOCKS RISE ON FED PAUSE BETS, JAPAN'S NIKKEI JUMPS TO ANOTHER 33-YEAR HIGH 🇯🇵🇦🇺🇨🇳🇭🇰🇰🇷🇮🇩🇮🇳
Read more »
Two dead after Japanese cadet opens fire on colleagues at shooting range, military says | CNNTwo people were killed Wednesday after a cadet allegedly opened fire on members of his own unit at a military training center in central Japan, the country’s Ground Self-Defense Force (SDF) has told CNN.
Read more »
2 Japanese soldiers are killed in shooting at army base firing rangeAn 18-year-old army trainee accused of shooting three fellow soldiers during an exercise was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, officials said.
Read more »
Japanese soldier arrested after fatal gun-range shooting - defence ministryJapanese police arrested an 18-year-old soldier on Wednesday after he shot and killed two instructors and injured a third at a military firing range in central Japan, the country's defence ministry said.
Read more »