Military partnership among topics in PHL-Japan bilateral talks

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 19): Military partnership among topics in PHL-Japan bilateral talks

The Philippines and Japan are expected to finalize its military partnership when President Benigno Aquino III and Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meet Thursday night here.

"We will see how the two parties will continue on that discussion," said Yasuhisa Kawamura, Press Secretary Spokesperson for Prime Minster Abe, in a briefing.

Kawamura said the Philippines and Japan were strong partners in sharing the fundamental value of democracy.

He explained that through the strategic partnership, both countries were able to promote partnership in several areas like the economy, military and people-to-people exchanges.

"Based on those achievements and conditions, the President and the Prime Minister will meet tonight and discuss the current stance of the partnership and collaboration," he said.

However, Kawamura stressed that equipment aid would not be given to help the Philippines in its sea row with China.

He said that Japan's stance on the issue was that the problem concerned the region and the international community.

He said arguments should have legal basis, that no force should be used to settle dispute and that peaceful resolution should be ensured.

"With all those three principles we could create an international order of the ocean," he said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=829020