MANILA -- The newly signed agreement allowing Japanese troops to visit the Philippines for joint drills and training is seen as a potential launchpad to develop a robust security partnership between the two countries, as tensions in the South China Sea, most of which is claimed by China, continue to simmer.
International relations
Philippines-Japan troop pact 'launchpad' for more defense ties
Experts expect extension of Manila-Tokyo deal to counter Chinese aggression
Japan Defence Minister Minoru Kihara, left, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., right, shake hands alongside Japan Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, center, following the signing of the reciprocal access agreement, at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, July 8. (Pool/Getty Images)
Read Next
Latest on International relations
