Philippines, Japan military chiefs reaffirm alliance

MANILA, Philippines — The military chiefs of the Philippines and Japan have reaffirmed their commitments toward strengthening alliances amid growing Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and Gen. Yoshida Yoshihide, chief of joint staff of the Japan Self-Defense Force, met via video teleconferencing on Thursday to discuss pressing regional security matters and developments in the Philippine-Japan defense partnership.

The two officials also lauded the delivery of air surveillance radar system and expressed the need for the immediate finalization of the reciprocal access agreement to allow more interoperable cooperation between the two nations.

AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said both military leaders also stressed the importance of alliance building to counter aggression, citing incidents of Chinese harassment in the West Philippine Sea as well as the recent conclusion of the Multilateral Staff Talks with Australia and the United States in Tokyo.

Yoshida, during the discussions, also conveyed Japan’s support for the 2016 Arbitral Ruling invalidating China’s expansive claim in the South China Sea.

Trinidad said the meeting demonstrates the AFP’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with like-minded nations and drawing support for the advancement of a rules-based international order and a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments, said the Marcos administration has all the right to seek Washington’s help in totally preventing China from continuously making incursions in the Philippines’ maritime territory.

He said Marcos can invoke the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the US if only to “prevent future Chinese attacks on Philippine vessels.”

“I support the President’s call. We should be done protesting Beijing’s continued harassment and bullying,” the Cagayan de Oro City congressman said. Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessels were targets of Chinese harassment in the West Philippine Sea.

“Our numerous and repeated protestations have