(VOVworld) - Japan is in talks with the Philippines about participating in joint drills with the United States on a regular basis. Amy Searight, deputy assistant secretary of defense for South and Southeast Asia, was referring to the Balikatan joint exercises the US and Philippine militaries are conducting near the East Sea.
She told an event in Washington on Tuesday that Japan is talking to the Philippines about a Status of Forces Agreement, so that Japan can regularly participate in these kinds of exercises. The envisioned agreement would govern the operations of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in the Philippines.
In February, Japan signed a deal with the Philippines to transfer defense equipment and technology as part of efforts to build closer security ties, following similar accords with countries such as Australia, Britain and India.