Japan, Philippines agree to launch talks on defense equipment transfer

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 4): Japan, Philippines agree to launch talks on defense equipment transfer

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Philippine President Benigno Aquino agreed Thursday to start negotiations on an accord for the transfer of defense equipment and technology, as the two nations aim to bolster security ties amid China's increasing assertiveness at sea.

Meeting in Tokyo during Aquino's state visit to Japan, the two leaders also shared their deep concerns over unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the South China Sea, according to a joint statement they issued after the meeting, apparently with China's recent rapid and massive reclamation work in mind.

At a time when such actions by Beijing have stoked tensions in and beyond Asia, the statement said Abe and Aquino underscored the importance of resolving maritime disputes based on international law and called for restraint in taking unilateral actions at sea.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=769029