MANILA (Kyodo) -- The leaders of Japan and the Philippines agreed Tuesday on the start of discussions to pave the way for key security pacts, aiming to further strengthen their security ties with China in mind.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said after the talks in Manila that they will initiate discussions on an intelligence-sharing deal and enter negotiations to sign a pact to facilitate joint defense drills.
