Japan Defense Minister visits 2 PH bases ahead of meeting with Teodoro

Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani over the weekend visited two Philippine bases, ahead of his meeting with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on Monday to discuss strengthening relations between the two countries.

Nakatani on Sunday visited the Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga, and the Wallace Air Station in San Fernando, La Union, where radar systems bought from Japan in 2024 are stationed.

“Given the fact that we are an archipelagic country is important, the domain extends far beyond our land borders and we have to know if there’s any activity within our EEZ [exclusive economic zone],” Teodoro said in Chino Gaston's report on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

“It is extremely important not only with the capabilities that radars are provided by Japan and some purchased by our government, but also our domain awareness,” he added.

The visit comes ahead of the meeting of the two officials on Monday, February 24, to discuss defense relations between Japan and the Philippines.

A reciprocal access agreement between the two countries is currently awaiting ratification in Japan, which would provide the basis for the cooperation between the troops of the two countries, similar to the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the United States.

Leaders of the Philippines, the United States, and Japan in April 2024 released a Joint Vision Statement indicating the possibility of more combined naval training and exercises together, with Manila set to receive support for its defense modernization priorities.

Prior to this, naval and air forces of the three countries and Australia conducted a multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) in the West Philippine Sea, in line with their commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News